decay

Meanings

• the process of gradually becoming inferior
• a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
• the organic phenomenon of rotting
• an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying
  • "the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"
  • "the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair"
• the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
• lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
• fall into decay or ruin
  • "The unoccupied house started to decay"
• undergo decay or decomposition
  • "The body started to decay and needed to be cremated"

Synonyms

crumble, decline, decompose, decomposition, dilapidate, disintegrate, disintegration, radioactive decay