decompose
verb [I or T] /ˌdiː.kəmˈpəʊz/
/-ˈpoʊz/ Definition
› to decay, or to cause something to decay: The body must have been decomposing for several weeks.Decaying and staying fresh › specialized to break, or to break something, into smaller parts: Microbes decompose organic waste into a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide.Tearing and breaking into pieces decomposition /ˌdiː.kɒm.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/
/-kɑːm-/ noun [U] › The corpse was in an advanced stage of decomposition.Decaying and staying fresh
/-kɑːm-/ noun [U] › The corpse was in an advanced stage of decomposition.Decaying and staying fresh(Definition of decompose verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse related topics
You are looking at an entry to do with Decaying and staying fresh, but you might be interested in these topics from the Life and death topic area:
Browse the Dictionary
Browse the Thesaurus
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- best-before date noun
- biodegradable adjective
- biodegrade verb
- decay noun
- decay verb
- molder verb
- out of date adjective (FOOD)
- perish verb (DECAY)
- perishable adjective
- pull date noun
- putrefaction noun
- putrefy verb
- rack noun (DECAY)
- rotten adjective
- seed noun (PLANT)
- sell-by date noun
- shrivel verb
- spoil verb (DESTROY)
- withered adjective
- wormy adjective
Topic:
Decaying and staying fresh
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Word of the Day
throw sb together
If two people are thrown together, they meet each other in a way that was not planned, or events...
Blog
Read our blog about how the English language behaves.
New Words
Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.
