Meaning & use
decomposition
Last updated
The process by which organic matter is broken down into simpler substances, or the act of separating something into its parts.
See it in a sentence
The decomposition of the fallen leaves enriched the forest soil.
The chemist studied the decomposition of the compound under heat.
A note on using this word
While most associated with biological decay, decomposition is also a standard term in chemistry and mathematics for breaking something into its constituent parts.
Words with a similar meaning
decaybreakdown
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Words with an opposite meaning
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