Decay
The gradual decomposition or deterioration of something; a decline in quality, value, or strength.
nounDecay
The gradual decomposition or deterioration of something; a decline in quality, value, or strength.
nounImagine This
Picture an old wooden fence in a rain-drenched garden. Over years, moisture seeps into the wood; mold creeps into the cracks, and the boards soften, warp, and eventually crumble. The fence’s sturdy appearance slowly decays into a pile of splinters.
Sounds Like
dih-KAY
Looks Like
DE-CAY, visually suggesting two parts breaking apart or crumbling away
Remember This
The root cadere means 'to fall' (as in cadaver, cascade), and decay shares that sense of things gradually falling apart. The word often appears in both physical (wood, teeth) and abstract (moral or economic) contexts.
Other Forms
Note
Use decay for natural degradation or decline (physical, biological, or figurative). Do not confuse with 'rot' in highly technical contexts (rot is a form of decay, often biological); 'decay' is broader and also used in non-physical contexts (e.g., moral decay, decay of values).