to decay
01
腐烂, 分解
to be gradually damaged or destroyed as a result of natural processes
Intransitive
例子
Wood can decay if left untreated and exposed to moisture.
如果未经处理并暴露在潮湿环境中，木材可能会腐烂。
The old building is currently decaying due to weathering.
由于风化作用，这座古老的建筑正在腐朽。
1.1
恶化, 腐朽
(of a structure or an area) to become worse gradually
Intransitive
例子
The old house began to decay after years of neglect.
这所老房子在多年的忽视后开始衰败。
The abandoned buildings slowly decayed over time.
废弃的建筑物随着时间的推移慢慢腐朽了。
02
腐烂, 损坏
to cause gradual destruction or damage of something
Transitive: to decay sth
例子
Neglecting proper dental hygiene can decay tooth enamel, leading to cavities and eventual tooth loss.
忽视适当的口腔卫生会腐蚀牙釉质，导致蛀牙和最终牙齿脱落。
Moisture and lack of ventilation can decay wooden furniture, causing it to warp, mold, and deteriorate over time.
湿气和缺乏通风会腐蚀木制家具，导致其随着时间的推移而变形、发霉和恶化。
03
衰变, 分解
(of a radioactive substance) undergoe fission or emits radiation, resulting in the transformation of its atomic nucleus into a different element or isotope
Intransitive: to decay into an element or isotope
例子
Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 through a process of alpha decay.
铀-238通过α衰变过程衰变为钍-234。
Radon-222 decays into polonium-218 through alpha decay, releasing an alpha particle and decreasing its atomic number by two.
氡-222通过α衰变衰变成钋-218，释放出一个α粒子，并使其原子序数减少两个。
Decay
01
a gradual decrease in stored charge, current, or signal strength
例子
The capacitor showed slow decay of its charge.
Signal decay over long wires can reduce performance.
02
the gradual process of decline, deterioration, or loss of quality, and the resulting inferior state
例子
The moral decay of society concerned the philosopher.
The building showed signs of structural decay.
03
the decomposition or rotting of organic matter
例子
The fruit was soft and showed signs of decay.
Tooth decay is a common problem in children.
04
the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance, emitting ionizing radiation
例子
Uranium undergoes radioactive decay over millions of years.
The half-life of a substance is measured by its decay.
