deteriorate
[ dih-teer-ee-uh-reyt ]
/ dɪˈtɪər i əˌreɪt /
verb (used with or without object), de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, de·te·ri·o·rat·ing.
to make or become worse or inferior in character, quality, value, etc.
to disintegrate or wear away.
Words nearby deteriorate
detention home, deter, deterge, detergency, detergent, deteriorate, deterioration, determinable, determinacy, determinant, determinate
Origin of deteriorate
OTHER WORDS FROM deteriorate
de·te·ri·o·ra·tive, adjectiveun·de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, adjectiveun·de·te·ri·o·rat·ing, adjectiveun·de·te·ri·o·ra·tive, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for deteriorate
British Dictionary definitions for deteriorate
deteriorate
/ (dɪˈtɪərɪəˌreɪt) /
verb
to make or become worse or lower in quality, value, character, etc; depreciate
(intr) to wear away or disintegrate
Derived forms of deteriorate
deterioration, noundeteriorative, adjectiveWord Origin for deteriorate
C16: from Late Latin dēteriōrāre, from Latin dēterior worse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for deteriorate
deteriorate
[ dĭ-tîr′ē-ə-rāt′ ]
v.
To grow worse in function or condition.
To weaken or disintegrate.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.