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to decay
01
to be gradually damaged or destroyed as a result of natural processes
Intransitive
Example
Wood can decay if left untreated and exposed to moisture.
The old building is currently decaying due to weathering.
1.1
(of a structure or an area) to become worse gradually
Intransitive
Example
The old house began to decay after years of neglect.
The abandoned buildings slowly decayed over time.
02
to cause gradual destruction or damage of something
Transitive: to decay sth
Example
Neglecting proper dental hygiene can decay tooth enamel, leading to cavities and eventual tooth loss.
Moisture and lack of ventilation can decay wooden furniture, causing it to warp, mold, and deteriorate over time.
03
(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
Example
Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 through a process of alpha decay.
Radon-222 decays into polonium-218 through alpha decay, releasing an alpha particle and decreasing its atomic number by two.
Decay
01
a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
02
the process of gradually becoming inferior
03
the organic phenomenon of rotting
04
the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
05
an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying
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