Decomposition

Noun

 * 1) A biological process through which organic material is reduced to e.g. compost
 * 2) The act of taking something apart, e.g. for analysis
 * 3) The splitting (of e.g. a matrix, an atom, or a compound) into constituent parts
 * 4) The conversion of chemically unstable materials to more stable forms by chemical or biological action.
 * If organic matter decays when there is no oxygen present (anaerobic conditions or putrefaction), undesirable tastes and odors are produced. Decay of organic matter when oxygen is present (aerobic conditions) tends to produce much less objectionable tastes and odors.

Related terms

 * decompose

Adjectives for Decomposition
chemical; spontaneous; painful; tedious; rapid; erosive; timely.

Verbs for Decomposition
crumble into—; fall into—; incur—; lapse intch—; object to—; prevent—; produce—; resolve into—; result in—; slide into—; suffer—; threaten with—; undergo—; — abates; —continues; —distributes; —separates.

Thesaurus
ablation, atomization, biodegradability, biodegradation, breakup, caries, carrion, corrosion, corruption, crumbling, decay, degradability, degradation, dilapidation, disintegration, disjunction, disorganization, dissolution, dry rot, erosion, foulness, gangrene, incoherence, mildew, mold, mortification, necrosis, oxidation, oxidization, putrefaction, putrescence, putridity, putridness, rancidity, rancidness, rankness, ravages of time, resolution, rot, rottenness, rust, slough, sphacelation, sphacelus, spoilage, tooth decay, wear, wear and tear

Translations

 * Bulgarian: гниене, разлагане
 * Finnish:
 * French:
 * German: ,
 * Greek:


 * Haitian Creole:
 * Italian:
 * Norwegian: nedbrytning
 * Portuguese:
 * Romanian: descompunere


 * Bulgarian: разглобяване
 * Finnish: hajottaminen, erittely
 * French: démontage


 * German: Zerlegung
 * Portuguese:
 * Romanian: demontare, descompunere


 * Bulgarian: разлагане
 * Dutch:
 * Finnish: hajotelma
 * French:


 * German: Zerlegung
 * Haitian Creole:
 * Portuguese:
 * Romanian: descompunere