Meaning & use
decay
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to gradually decline in quality, strength, or condition, often through a natural process of rotting or deterioration.
See it in a sentence
The abandoned house began to decay after years of neglect.
Radioactive elements decay at a predictable rate over time.
A note on using this word
Used both literally, for physical or biological breakdown such as tooth decay, and figuratively, for social or moral decline.
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Another way to use it
2. noun
the process or state of decline or rot.
Dentists check for early signs of tooth decay.
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