Decay | Mean of decay in English Dictionary

/dɪˈkeɪ/

• Verb
• to be slowly destroyed by natural processes
1. Tomatoes that fall off the vine will decay [=rot] on the ground.
2. a dead fish decaying [=decomposing] on the beach
3. the smell of decaying/decayed rubbish
4. dead plants and leaves decayed by bacteria
• to slowly lose strength, health, etc.
1. She believes that the moral fiber of our society is decaying.
2. our decaying public school system
3. His mind/health is beginning to decay. [=decline]
• to go slowly from a bad condition to a worse condition
1. The city's neighborhoods are decaying.
• Noun

• the process or result of decaying: such as
• the process or result of being slowly destroyed by natural processes
1. the decay of dead plants and leaves
2. tooth decay
• the slow loss of strength, health, etc.
1. She writes about the moral decay of our society.
2. We're concerned about the decay [=deterioration] of our public school system.
3. the patient's physical and mental decay
• the process or result of going slowly from a bad condition to a worse condition
1. The city's neighborhoods are in slow decay.
2. She wants to restore an old theater that is falling into decay. [=falling into ruin]