biodegrade

American  

[bahy-oh-di-greyd] / ˌbaɪ oʊ dɪˈgreɪd /

verb (used without object)

biodegraded, biodegrading

1. to decay and become absorbed by the environment.

   toys that will biodegrade when they're discarded.

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Other Word Forms

• biodegradation noun

Etymology

Origin of biodegrade

First recorded in 1970–75; back formation from biodegradable

Example Sentences

"These discarded butts are toxic and a significant source of plastic pollution, due to their filters, which do not biodegrade."

From Barron's

Wie’s group is developing versions of these robots that biodegrade after use, eliminating the need for surgical removal, and coatings that make the robots compatible with human tissue.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Environment for Development, a global research network, estimates that around a third are unusable items that end up in landfills -- mostly made from plastic-based materials like nylon and polyester that does not biodegrade.

From Barron's

One of the most common compounds is a polyester known as PLA, short for polylactic acid, which will biodegrade in an industrial compost setting.

From New York Times

The resulting highly transparent plastic is much better moldable and more shock resistant than pure polylactic acid, and also biodegrades in seawater within a week.

From Science Daily