decay

Pronunciation: /diˈkeɪ/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the process of gradually becoming inferior
  2. noun a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
  3. noun the organic phenomenon of rotting

Etymology

From Middle English decaien (“to decrease, diminish”) and decai (“deterioration, decline in value”), from Anglo-Norman decaeir (“to fall away, decay, decline”), from Vulgar Latin *dēcadere, etymologically restored form of Latin dēcidere (“to fall down, to fail, sink or perish”), from de- (“of, from, away, down”) + cadere (“to fall”). Compare decadent and decadence.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
natural process
Narrower (hyponyms)
decomposition, corruption, spoilage, cavity, dilapidation

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