decay

noun

/dɪˈkeɪ/

[uncountable]

the process or result of being destroyed by natural causes or by not being cared for (= of decaying)腐烂；腐朽
- tooth decay蛀牙
- The landlord had let the building fall into decay.房东任由房子变得破烂不堪。
- The smell of death and decay hung over the town.城镇上空弥漫着死亡和腐烂的气味。
- The decay of the wood will spread if it is not removed.如果不清除，木头会腐烂。
- My dentist could not find any signs of decay.牙医找不到我的牙齿有任何蛀蚀的迹象。
- Smoking accelerates age-related decay in the heart and arteries.吸烟加速心脏和动脉的老化。
- The derelict buildings are the signs of a town in decay.这些荒废的建筑兆示着一个城市的衰落。
- the slow decay of the castle and the surrounding buildings城堡和周围建筑物的缓慢破败
Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- rapid
- slow
- dental
- …
verb + decay
- cause
- stop
- reverse
- …
preposition
- in decay
- decay in
- decay of
- …
phrases
- the process of decay
- signs of decay
- an odour/odor of decay
- …
the process of a society, an institution, a system, etc. being gradually destroyed（社会、机构、制度等的）衰败，衰退，衰落
- economic/moral/urban decay经济衰退；道德败坏；城市衰落
- the decay of the old industries旧工业的衰败
- This government promises to reverse industrial decay.这届政府承诺扭转工业衰退的局面。
- Without a lot of money, the mayor won't be able to stop urban decay.若没有大量的资金，市长就无法阻止城市的衰落。
Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- rapid
- slow
- dental
- …
verb + decay
- cause
- stop
- reverse
- …
preposition
- in decay
- decay in
- decay of
- …
phrases
- the process of decay
- signs of decay
- an odour/odor of decay
- …
(physics物理) the process by which a radioactive substance changes to a different form by sending out radiation腐烂；腐朽
- Radioactive decay happens at a constant rate regardless of exposure to air.无论暴露在空气中，放射性衰变都以恒定的速率发生。
see also beta decay

词源late Middle English: from Old French decair, based on Latin decidere ‘fall down or off’, from de- ‘from’ + cadere ‘fall’.

decay

verb

/dɪˈkeɪ/

动词形式

present simple I / you / we / they decay	/dɪˈkeɪ/ /dɪˈkeɪ/
he / she / it decays	/dɪˈkeɪz/ /dɪˈkeɪz/
past simple decayed	/dɪˈkeɪd/ /dɪˈkeɪd/
past participle decayed	/dɪˈkeɪd/ /dɪˈkeɪd/
-ing form decaying	/dɪˈkeɪɪŋ/ /dɪˈkeɪɪŋ/

[intransitive, transitive] decay (something) to be destroyed gradually by natural processes; to destroy something in this way（使）腐烂，腐朽 synonym rot
- decaying leaves/teeth/food烂叶；蛀齿；腐烂食物
Topics Buildingsc1
[intransitive] if a building or an area decays, its condition slowly becomes worse（建筑、地方等）破败，衰落，衰败
- decaying inner city areas衰败中的内城区
[intransitive] to become less powerful and lose influence over people, society, etc.（力量、影响等）衰弱，衰退，衰减
- decaying standards of morality日趋低下的道德标准

词源late Middle English: from Old French decair, based on Latin decidere ‘fall down or off’, from de- ‘from’ + cadere ‘fall’.