Decay

noun

dɪ'keɪ

Noun

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”
Type of:Unsoundness
the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
Similar:Disintegration
the organic phenomenon of rotting
Similar:Decomposition
a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
Similar:Decline
Type of:DecrementDecrease
the process of gradually becoming inferior
Type of:ActivityAction

fall into decay or ruin
“The unoccupied house started to decay”
Similar:CrumbleDilapidate
Type of:Change
undergo decay or decomposition
“The body started to decay and needed to be cremated”
Type of:Change
lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
Similar:Decompose Disintegrate

Peak usage: 1800s

Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer (1800–2019)