decompose
gb/dˌikəmpˈoʊz/ us/dˌikəmpˈoʊz/
B2
English
lebomlik, bomlásnak indul, bomlik, lebont, bont
VERB
B2
1
lebomlik
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] decomposes; [organism/microbe] decomposes [something]
Fallen leaves decompose and return nutrients to the soil.
A lehullott levelek lebomlanak, és visszajuttatják a tápanyagokat a talajba.
The body had already begun to decompose in the heat.
A test a melegben már bomlásnak indult.
Compost works because bacteria and fungi decompose food scraps and garden waste.
Learner examples
Fruit decomposes faster in warm weather.
A gyümölcs meleg időben gyorsabban lebomlik.
Dead plants decompose in the soil.
Az elhalt növények lebomlanak a talajban.
Common mistake:
Do not use decompose for ordinary mechanical breaking, like a glass breaking on the floor.
Meaning
rot and break down
Collocations
decompose naturally
|decompose quickly
|decompose slowly
|decomposing body
|decomposing leaves
|organic matter decomposes
|food waste decomposes
|bacteria decompose
|microbes decompose
|begin to decompose
Synonyms
decay (common for gradual natural breakdown)
|
rot (more informal and often suggests a bad smell)
|
break down (more general and less specifically about decay)
Antonyms
preserve (keep from decaying or breaking down)
|
remain intact (not break down into parts or substances)
Themes
nature
|biology
|environment
|waste
Definition
If dead plants, animals, food, or waste decompose, they rot and become simpler natural substances.
To decay and gradually break down into simpler substances, especially after death or as waste matter ages.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
[substance] decomposes; decompose [substance] into [substances]
Hydrogen peroxide slowly decomposes into water and oxygen.
A hidrogén-peroxid lassan vízzé és oxigénné bomlik.
Some plastics release harmful chemicals when they decompose under high heat.
Egyes műanyagok káros vegyi anyagokat bocsátanak ki, amikor nagy hő hatására lebomlanak.
The experiment showed how light can decompose the compound.
Learner examples
Heat can decompose some chemicals.
A hő lebont egyes vegyi anyagokat.
The compound decomposes into two simpler substances.
A vegyület két egyszerűbb anyagra bomlik.
Common mistake:
In science, decompose usually means a chemical change, not just separating a mixture by hand.
Meaning
chemically break into simpler substances
Collocations
chemically decompose
|decompose into water and oxygen
|decompose under heat
|decompose in sunlight
|decompose rapidly
|decompose slowly
|decompose a compound
|thermal decomposition
|decompose a substance
Synonyms
break down (less technical and more general)
|
disintegrate (often physical rather than chemical)
|
dissociate (technical; often about molecules or ions separating)
Antonyms
combine (join substances together rather than split them apart)
|
synthesize (produce a compound from simpler materials)
Themes
chemistry
|science
|materials
Definition
In chemistry, if a substance decomposes, it changes into simpler substances.
To break down, or make a substance break down, into simpler chemical substances.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
bont
B2
Usage pattern:
decompose [something] into [parts/components/tasks]
The team decomposed the project into smaller tasks with clear deadlines.
A csapat a projektet egyértelmű határidejű kisebb feladatokra bontotta.
In image processing, the algorithm decomposes the picture into layers of detail.
A képfeldolgozásban az algoritmus részletrétegekre bontja a képet.
Engineers often decompose a complex system into modules before designing it.
Learner examples
We decomposed the problem into three smaller questions.
A problémát három kisebb kérdésre bontottuk.
The program decomposes the task into simple steps.
A program egyszerű lépésekre bontja a feladatot.
Common mistake:
This use is more formal or technical than break down; in everyday speech, break down a problem is usually more natural.
Meaning
divide into smaller parts
Collocations
decompose a problem
|decompose a task
|decompose a system
|decompose a function
|decompose a matrix
|decompose a signal
|decompose into components
|decompose into smaller parts
|functional decomposition
|matrix decomposition
Synonyms
break down (more common in everyday and business English)
|
divide (more general; does not imply analysis)
|
analyze (focuses on studying parts, not necessarily splitting them)
Antonyms
combine (put parts together rather than separate them)
|
integrate (join parts into a whole system)
|
assemble (build a whole from separate parts)
Themes
analysis
|computing
|mathematics
|engineering
|problem_solving
Definition
To break a complex problem, system, or object into smaller parts for study or work.
To divide a complex thing into smaller parts so that it can be understood, analyzed, designed, or processed more easily.
Grammar
Dictionary form
decompose
IPA
GB/dˌikəmpˈoʊz/
US/dˌikəmpˈoʊz/
Syllables & stress
de - com - pose (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (pose)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: decompose
- 3rd Person Singular: decomposes
- Present Participle: decomposing
- Past: decomposed
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.