decompose
[ dee-kuhm-pohz ]
/ ˌdi kəmˈpoʊz /
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verb (used with object), de·com·posed, de·com·pos·ing.
to separate or resolve into constituent parts or elements; disintegrate: The bacteria decomposed the milk into its solid and liquid elements.
verb (used without object), de·com·posed, de·com·pos·ing.
to rot; putrefy: The egg began to decompose after a day in the sun.
QUIZZES
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Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT synonym study for decompose
2. See decay.
OTHER WORDS FROM decompose
de·com·pos·a·ble, adjectivede·com·pos·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·de·com·pos·a·ble, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for decompose
British Dictionary definitions for decompose
decompose
/ (ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz) /
verb
to break down (organic matter) or (of organic matter) to be broken down physically and chemically by bacterial or fungal action; rot
chem to break down or cause to break down into simpler chemical compounds
to break up or separate into constituent parts
(tr) maths to express in terms of a number of independent simpler components, as a set as a canonical union of disjoint subsets, or a vector into orthogonal components
Derived forms of decompose
decomposable, adjectivedecomposability, noundecomposition (ˌdiːkɒmpəˈzɪʃən), nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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