decomposing
Slowly falling apart
Decomposing describes the process of breaking down into simpler components.
Organic matter decomposes through bacterial action: The body was already decomposing when they found it.
The word applies to any gradual disintegration—a decomposing marriage, decomposing infrastructure.
In technical contexts, decomposing means separating into constituent parts: decomposing a complex problem into manageable steps.
Gradual organic breakdown
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- biodegradationMicrobial breakdown of organics
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
fungi · microbes · enzymes · detritivores · maggots · carcass · carrion · cadaver
Powerfully offensive odor
- odourDetected by nose
- putridDecomposed and foul-smelling
- foulOffensive or illegal
- rottenDecomposed or corrupt
spoiled · fetid · rank · rancid · malodorous · pungent · nauseating · repulsive
Vital dietary substances
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- nitrogen cycleBiogeochemical element circulation
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
humus · mulch · soil · ecosystem · recycling · mineralization · leaf litter · detritus
Process of breaking apart
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- erosionGradual wearing away
corrosion · weathering · breakdown · shattering · degradation · dilapidation · structural failure · collapse
Stopping working properly
- parsingGrammatical structure extraction
- analyzingExamining in detail
- dissectingMethodically cutting to examine
- deconstructingBreaking into constituent elements
separating · segmenting · components · elements · parts · factors · constituents · subdividing
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- putrefactionBacterial breakdown of tissue
- biodegradationMicrobial breakdown of organics
bacteria · fungi · microbes · enzymes · detritivores · maggots · carcass · carrion · cadaver · organic matter
stench
Powerfully offensive odor
rotten · spoiled · fetid · rank · rancid · malodorous · pungent · nauseating · repulsive · disgusting
nutrients
Vital dietary substances
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- nitrogen cycleBiogeochemical element circulation
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
composting · humus · mulch · soil · ecosystem · recycling · mineralization · leaf litter · detritus · topsoil
disintegration
Process of breaking apart
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
erosion · corrosion · weathering · breakdown · shattering · degradation · dilapidation · structural failure · collapse · wear
breaking down
Stopping working properly
- parsingGrammatical structure extraction
- analyzingExamining in detail
- dissectingMethodically cutting to examine
deconstructing · separating · segmenting · components · elements · parts · factors · constituents · subdividing · simplifying
- decayrot, decay rate, wilt, crumble, fade
- deterioratingdecaying, degrading, rotting, eroding, crumbling
- spoiledrotten, rotted, rotting, spoiled, spoiling
- spoiled foodrotting, molding, spoiling, decaying, rancid
- number sensenumber sense, counting, numeracy, number recognition, number line
- mental mathmental math, mental arithmetic, estimation, guesstimate, ballpark
decomposinggrowing
Increasing or enlarging
living · alive · composing · thriving · flourishing
- decomposing matter
- chemical decompositionSeparation into simpler substances
- LU decompositionMatrix split into triangular factors
- QR decompositionMatrix as orthogonal-triangular product
- organic decompositionBiological breakdown of matter