decay
verb/dɪˈkeɪ/
/dɪˈkeɪ/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they decay | /dɪˈkeɪ/ /dɪˈkeɪ/ |
| he / she / it decays | /dɪˈkeɪz/ /dɪˈkeɪz/ |
| past simple decayed | /dɪˈkeɪd/ /dɪˈkeɪd/ |
| past participle decayed | /dɪˈkeɪd/ /dɪˈkeɪd/ |
| -ing form decaying | /dɪˈkeɪɪŋ/ /dɪˈkeɪɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] decay (something) to be destroyed gradually by natural processes; to destroy something in this way synonym rot
- decaying leaves/teeth/food
- [intransitive] if a building or an area decays, its condition slowly becomes worse
- decaying inner city areas
- [intransitive] to become less powerful and lose influence over people, society, etc.
- decaying standards of morality
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French decair, based on Latin decidere ‘fall down or off’, from de- ‘from’ + cadere ‘fall’.
Check pronunciation:
decay