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Glite Dictionary
🍂 To rot 🧪 To break apart
to decompose

to decompose

37 4.4
To change dead plants and animals into simpler parts with help from bacteria or fungi
  • verb
  • /ˌdiːkəmˈpoʊz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : descomponerse
  • Bacteria and fungi help organic waste to decompose into nutrient-rich compost.
  • organic matter decomposes
  • materials decompose
  • plants decompose

It's not like it's going to rot or decompose in some way.

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Examples

  • The body dies, decomposes, the soul is separated, continues to live on.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • When a body decomposes, the skin dehydrates, causing the hair and fingernails to extend.

  • A whole body would take a year to decompose... longer if it was down far enough, cold enough.

    The Fog (1980)

  • And in certain parts of the world, depending upon the temperature, the body will decompose and rot away.

  • Everything and everybody will in turn decompose and be shaped into new forms of matter.

    Academic text (2000)

  • But some plastics take centuries to decompose, creating a huge build up of waste.

  • Furthermore, when the algae die and decompose, oxygen in the bottom water is consumed.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The floor was soft with a mix of dirt, plaster, and decomposing plant material.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • And I encounter this toppled over oak tree and it occurs to me that this tree is now dying and decomposing back into the earth.

    The Knowledge Project Podcast

  • It'll insulate the soil so that worms can stay up in the top layers of soil and work on decomposing over the winter.

Synonyms

to rot
vsto decompose
156 1.4

To decay and break down because of bacteria or mold

focuses on microbial action creating simpler compounds in organic material
to break down
vsto decompose
  • Specialized
36 3.7

To make something separate into smaller parts by a chemical process

involves biological decay into simpler organic substances rather than general chemical separation
to disintegrate
vsto decompose
  • Specialized
29 6.0

Break into smaller parts by losing energy in a physical process, for example in an atom

involves chemical or biological conversion into simpler substances not mere physical breakage
to decay
vsto decompose
22 3.4

To rot and break down because of bacteria and fungi

is the general term meaning breakdown into simpler substances by microbes
to rot away
vsto decompose
16 4.2

To slowly become weaker or fall apart because it is not cared for

focuses on microbial breakdown into simpler substances rather than general wasting
to molder
vsto decompose
  • US
3 7.1

To rot slowly because of moisture or neglect

refers to breakdown by organisms rather than slow moisture damage
to biodegrade
vsto decompose
2 4.4

To break down naturally into harmless parts when tiny living things like bacteria act on it

emphasizes microbial decay into simpler substances rather than harmless end products

How Decomposed

to rot
156 1.4
to decompose
  • Specialized
37 4.4
to decay
37 4.4
to spoil
30 1.6

Surface Forms

decompose infinitive
decomposed past
decomposed past participle
decomposing present participle
decomposes third person singular

Morphology

decompose = compose (semi-transparent) = de + compose

The word can be understood as the reversal of 'compose', but the path from that to the specific idea of organic decay is indirect.

Etymology

The word decompose comes from the parts de- 'away' and compose 'to put together', so it literally means 'take apart'. A helpful image is food in a compost bin, where tiny living things like bacteria and fungi 'take apart' the matter until it becomes simple, natural material.