decays
Slowly falls apart
Decays is the verb decay in the third person singular.
To decay is to break down gradually through natural processes—organic matter rots, buildings crumble, radioactive elements lose particles over time.
The noun decay names this deterioration: tooth decay, urban decay, the decay of old institutions.
What decays loses integrity, structure, or vitality: The abandoned house decays a little more each year.
Grow worse over time
- degradeLower in standing
- crumbleFragment gradually
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- disintegrateBreak into fragments
wear · degenerate · dilapidate · corrode · rust · oxidation · tarnish · pitting
Organic breakdown process
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- biodegradationMicrobial breakdown of organics
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
detritus · microorganisms · fungi · bacteria · organic · earthworms · decomposers · nutrients
Emitting nuclear decay particles
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- betaGreek alphabet's second letter
gamma · nuclear · particle · emission · transmutation · unstable · neutron · proton
To make smaller
- weakenReduce in strength
- waneDecrease gradually
- fadeLose intensity gradually
- dwindleDecrease gradually over time
ebb · subside · recede · slump · drop · falter · languish · stagnate
Science of heat-energy relationships
- disorderAbsence of organization
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
- equilibriumState of balance
dissipation · chaos · dispersion · degradation · disorganization
deteriorate
Grow worse over time
disintegrate · wear · degenerate · dilapidate · corrode · rust · oxidation · tarnish · pitting · weathering
rot
Organic breakdown process
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- biodegradationMicrobial breakdown of organics
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
humus · detritus · microorganisms · fungi · bacteria · organic · earthworms · decomposers · nutrients · breakdown
radioactive
Emitting nuclear decay particles
beta · gamma · nuclear · particle · emission · transmutation · unstable · neutron · proton · fission
diminish
To make smaller
dwindle · ebb · subside · recede · slump · drop · falter · languish · stagnate · regress
thermodynamics
Science of heat-energy relationships
- disorderAbsence of organization
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
equilibrium · dissipation · chaos · dispersion · degradation · disorganization
- goes badrots, spoils, molds, sours, curdles
- erodeserodes, corrodes, abrades, wears down, wears out
- breaks downfalls apart, collapses, crumbles, disintegrates, analyzes
- tarnishesblemishes, blots, corrupts, defames, denigrates
- transformationschange, changes, transform, transforms, transformation
decaysgrows
Increases in amount
flourishes · thrives · improves · develops · blossoms
decaysorganizes
Puts into systematic order
builds · forms · constructs · assembles · synthesizes
- tooth decayProgressive dental deterioration
- organic decayBiological material breaking down
- moral decayDecline in ethical standards
- urban decayCity infrastructure deterioration
- radioactive decayUnstable atoms releasing energy
- exponential decayProportional decrease over time