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decay

noun
🔊/dɪˈkeɪ/
🔊/dɪˈkeɪ/
[uncountable]
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  1. 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，木头的腐烂就会蔓延开来。
    Extra Examples
    • 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
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • 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
    • …
    See full entry
  2. 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
    Extra Examples
    • 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。
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • 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
    • …
    See full entry
  3. (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.无论暴露于空气中如何，放射性衰变都以恒定的速率发生。
    see also beta decay
    4. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French decair, based on Latin decidere ‘fall down or off’, from de- ‘from’ + cadere ‘fall’.

decay

verb
🔊/dɪˈkeɪ/
🔊/dɪˈkeɪ/
Verb Forms
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/
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  1. [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
  2. [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
  3. [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
    4. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French decair, based on Latin decidere ‘fall down or off’, from de- ‘from’ + cadere ‘fall’.