decompose

verb

de·com·pose ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz How to pronounce decompose (audio)

decomposed; decomposing; decomposes

transitive verb

: to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds

decompose water by electrolysis

decompose a word into its base and affixes

: rot

intransitive verb

: to break up into constituent parts by or as if by a chemical process : decay, rot

fruit decomposes

decomposability

ˌdē-kəm-ˌpō-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce decompose (audio)

noun

decomposable

ˌdē-kəm-ˈpō-zə-bəl How to pronounce decompose (audio)

adjective

decomposition

(ˌ)dē-ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən How to pronounce decompose (audio)

noun

Example Sentences

Bacteria and fungi help decompose organic matter. the smell of decomposing leaves The compound will decompose in the presence of light.

Recent Examples on the Web Microbes enable bodies to decompose into one cubic yard of nutrient-rich soil within about a month.

Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2022 Plastics, the vast majority of which are made from fossil fuels, can take hundreds of years to decompose.

Washington Post, 4 May 2022 Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose and first break down into tiny particles.

Christopher M. Matthews, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022 Wildlife may also contribute to the spread of valley fever by carrying it back to new regions, which then absorb the fungus into the soil when the animals die and decompose.

Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2022 Cut into strips, the bag can be composted curbside and will decompose in under a year.

Jiakai Chang, Outside Online, 16 Feb. 2022 Bogan said that during their larvae stage, crane flies decompose organic matter.

Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2022 In order for the Haikouichthys to leave fossils, their dead bodies would have had to sink to the bottom of the water and be covered with sediments before microorganisms could decompose them.

Isaac Skromne, The Conversation, 18 July 2022 If a unit is dislodged and lost at sea, the system would decompose rather than contribute to pollution.

Collin Robisheaux, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 See More

decompose

verb

as in to disintegrate

to go through decomposition detectives needed to know how long it would take a corpse to decompose to that advanced state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

disintegrate
decay
rot
putrefy
deteriorate
perish
mold
fester
spoil
molder
descend
crumble
fall apart
corrupt
turn
run to seed
contaminate
foul
pollute
rust
ferment
break down
sour
defile
go to seed
taint
mortify
degenerate
sink
turn off
curdle
decline
wither
addle
dilapidate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grow
develop
ripen
mature
restore
refresh
purify
integrate
renew
age
compose
assemble
improve
cleanse
better
ameliorate
meliorate

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of decompose are decay, putrefy, rot, and spoil. While all these words mean "to undergo destructive dissolution," decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption.

the strong odor of decomposing vegetation

The words decay and decompose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection.

a decaying mansion

In some situations, the words putrefy and decompose are roughly equivalent. However, putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell.

corpses putrefying on the battlefield

Rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness.

fruit was left to rot in warehouses

The synonyms spoil and decompose are sometimes interchangeable, but spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods.

keep the ham from spoiling

单词	decompose
释义	decompose verb de·com·pose ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz decomposed; decomposing; decomposes transitive verb 1 : to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds decompose water by electrolysis decompose a word into its base and affixes 2 : rot intransitive verb : to break up into constituent parts by or as if by a chemical process : decay, rot fruit decomposes decomposability ˌdē-kəm-ˌpō-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun decomposable ˌdē-kəm-ˈpō-zə-bəl adjective decomposition (ˌ)dē-ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən noun Synonyms break down corrupt decay disintegrate fester foul mold molder perish [chiefly British] putrefy rot spoil See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Bacteria and fungi help decompose organic matter. the smell of decomposing leaves The compound will decompose in the presence of light. Recent Examples on the Web Microbes enable bodies to decompose into one cubic yard of nutrient-rich soil within about a month. Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2022 Plastics, the vast majority of which are made from fossil fuels, can take hundreds of years to decompose. Washington Post, 4 May 2022 Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose and first break down into tiny particles. Christopher M. Matthews, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022 Wildlife may also contribute to the spread of valley fever by carrying it back to new regions, which then absorb the fungus into the soil when the animals die and decompose. Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2022 Cut into strips, the bag can be composted curbside and will decompose in under a year. Jiakai Chang, Outside Online, 16 Feb. 2022 Bogan said that during their larvae stage, crane flies decompose organic matter. Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2022 In order for the Haikouichthys to leave fossils, their dead bodies would have had to sink to the bottom of the water and be covered with sediments before microorganisms could decompose them. Isaac Skromne, The Conversation, 18 July 2022 If a unit is dislodged and lost at sea, the system would decompose rather than contribute to pollution. Collin Robisheaux, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology French décomposer, from dé- de + composer to compose First Known Use 1718, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Kids Definition decompose verb de·com·pose ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz decomposed; decomposing 1 : to break down or be broken down into simpler parts or substances especially by the action of living things (as bacteria and fungi) Leaves decomposed on the forest floor. 2 : to separate a substance into simpler compounds Water can be decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen. Medical Definition decompose verb de·com·pose ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz decomposed; decomposing transitive verb : to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds decompose water by electrolysis intransitive verb : to undergo chemical breakdown : decay, rot fruit decomposes decompose verb as in to disintegrate to go through decomposition detectives needed to know how long it would take a corpse to decompose to that advanced state Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance disintegrate decay rot putrefy deteriorate perish mold fester spoil molder descend crumble fall apart corrupt turn run to seed contaminate foul pollute rust ferment break down sour defile go to seed taint mortify degenerate sink turn off curdle decline wither addle dilapidate Antonyms & Near Antonyms grow develop ripen mature restore refresh purify integrate renew age compose assemble improve cleanse better ameliorate meliorate See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of decompose are decay, putrefy, rot, and spoil. While all these words mean "to undergo destructive dissolution," decompose stresses a breaking down by chemical change and when applied to organic matter a corruption. the strong odor of decomposing vegetation The words decay and decompose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decay implies a slow change from a state of soundness or perfection. a decaying mansion In some situations, the words putrefy and decompose are roughly equivalent. However, putrefy implies the rotting of animal matter and offensiveness to sight and smell. corpses putrefying on the battlefield Rot is a close synonym of decompose and often connotes foulness. fruit was left to rot in warehouses The synonyms spoil and decompose are sometimes interchangeable, but spoil applies chiefly to the decomposition of foods. keep the ham from spoiling
随便看	rests on shaky ground rests upon rests with restudied restudies restudy restudying restuff restuffed restuffing restuffs restward restwards resty restyle restyled restyles restyling resubject resubjection resublime resublimed resublimeing resublimes resubliming

decompose

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Medical Definition

verb

verb

Synonym Chooser