decompose
Fall apart organically
To decompose is to break down into simpler components.
Organic matter decomposes through bacterial action: The body had been decomposing for weeks.
In chemistry, compounds decompose into their constituent elements.
The word extends to analysis: mathematicians decompose problems into manageable parts.
Decomposition is the noun.
Organic breakdown process
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- putrefyDecompose with stench
- biodegradeDecay via microorganisms
- detritusLoose waste from decay
organic · bacteria · fungi · mold · maggots · carrion · humus · nutrients
Break into fragments
- crumbleFragment gradually
- fragmentIncomplete portion of whole
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- corrodeDestroy through chemical action
deteriorate · weather · oxidize · rust · degrade · break apart · splinter · pulverize
Cut open to examine
- deconstructAnalyze by breaking down
- break downFail mechanically or emotionally
- parseExamine syntax closely
- examineStudy with attention
scrutinize · separate · partition · isolate · categorize · classify · segment · subdivide
Answer a stimulus
- separateTo set apart
- catalyzeAccelerate a process
- hydrolyzeDecompose via water reaction
- oxidizeCombine with oxygen
reduce · electrolyze · thermolysis · photolysis · pyrolysis · distill · precipitate · ionize
Contributor to result
- simplifyMake less complex
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- eigenvectorDirection preserved under transformation
- matrixOrdered numerical arrangement
polynomial · prime · algorithm · spectral · orthogonal · vector · tensor · series
rot
Organic breakdown process
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- putrefyDecompose with stench
- biodegradeDecay via microorganisms
detritus · organic · bacteria · fungi · mold · maggots · carrion · humus · nutrients · microorganisms
disintegrate
Break into fragments
- crumbleFragment gradually
- fragmentIncomplete portion of whole
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
corrode · deteriorate · weather · oxidize · rust · degrade · break apart · splinter · pulverize · dissolve
dissect
Cut open to examine
- deconstructAnalyze by breaking down
- break downFail mechanically or emotionally
- parseExamine syntax closely
examine · scrutinize · separate · partition · isolate · categorize · classify · segment · subdivide · differentiate
react
Answer a stimulus
oxidize · reduce · electrolyze · thermolysis · photolysis · pyrolysis · distill · precipitate · ionize · dissociate
factor
Contributor to result
- simplifyMake less complex
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- eigenvectorDirection preserved under transformation
matrix · polynomial · prime · algorithm · spectral · orthogonal · vector · tensor · series · expansion
- deterioratedecay, rot, deteriorate, corrode, crumble
- go badrot, spoil, decay, mold, sour
- nature termsecosystem, seed, root, branch, climate
- lab verbsanalyze, boil, calibrate, centrifuge, condense
- biology verbsgrow, divide, reproduce, evolve, mutate
- factoringprime factorization, prime factors, common factor, common factors, factor tree
- decomposing matter
- chemical decompositionSeparation into simpler substances
- LU decompositionMatrix split into triangular factors
- QR decompositionMatrix as orthogonal-triangular product
- organic decompositionBiological breakdown of matter
decomposition, decomposed, decomposing, decomposes, decomposer, decomposers, decomposable