decay
gb/dɪkˈeɪ/ us/dɪkˈeɪ/
B1
Inglés
~ 5700
romlás, hanyatlás, lepusztulás, romlik, hanyatlik, leromlik, leépül, fogszuvasodás, lebomlik, rothad, exponenciális csökkenés, bomlás, jelgyengülés
SUSTANTIVO
B2
1
Patrón de uso:
decay in [something]
The once-beautiful neighborhood has fallen into decay over the past decade.
Az egykor gyönyörű környék az elmúlt évtizedben erősen lepusztult.
Many people worry about the moral decay they see in modern politics.
Sokan aggódnak a modern politikában tapasztalható erkölcsi hanyatlás miatt.
The museum was created to save the castle from further decay.
There are clear signs of decay in the company’s culture and performance.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The old house shows a lot of decay.
A régi ház nagyon leromlott állapotban van.
Some people think there is moral decay in society today.
Vannak, akik szerint ma erkölcsi hanyatlás tapasztalható a társadalomban.
The city is working to stop the decay of the downtown area.
We must repair the bridge before the decay becomes too serious.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse "decay" with "decline" when talking about numbers or prices. Use "decline" for things like sales or population (e.g., "sales declined"), and use "decay" mainly for condition or quality (e.g., "the building is in decay").
Significado
gradual decline in condition or quality
Colocaciones
urban decay
|moral decay
|signs of decay
|in a state of decay
|rapid decay
|social decay
Sinónimos
deterioration (Very close in meaning; often slightly more formal and common in technical or official descriptions.)
|
decline (Broader and more general; can refer to numbers and popularity, not just physical or moral condition.)
Antónimos
improvement (Focuses on something getting better, the opposite direction of decay.)
|
growth (Suggests increase and development rather than gradual worsening or breakdown.)
Temas
society
|daily life
|environment
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definición
A slow change that makes something less strong, less good, or in worse condition over time.
A slow and continuous process in which something becomes worse in condition, quality, or strength.
VERBO
B2
2
Patrón de uso:
[something] decays
If we ignore maintenance, the roads will quickly decay.
Ha elhanyagoljuk a karbantartást, az utak gyorsan leromlanak.
Without strong leadership, institutions tend to decay from the inside.
Erős vezetés nélkül az intézmények hajlamosak belülről leépülni.
The historic theater has decayed after years of neglect.
Trust between the two communities decayed over several generations.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The old building is starting to decay.
A régi épület kezd leromlani.
Our relationship decayed because we did not talk.
Megromlott a kapcsolatunk, mert nem beszéltünk egymással.
If you do not care for your things, they will decay.
The village began to decay when the factory closed.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes say "make decay" or "do decay" instead of using the verb directly. Say "The building is decaying" or "The building has decayed," not *"The building has a decay" in this sense.
Significado
to slowly become worse or weaker
Colocaciones
infrastructure decays
|values are decaying
|decay over time
|let [something] decay
|slowly decays
Sinónimos
deteriorate (Very close in meaning; more common for formal descriptions of systems, health, or conditions.)
|
decline (More often used for numbers, power, or importance, not just physical condition.)
Antónimos
improve (Describes something getting better, the opposite of decaying.)
|
strengthen (Focuses on gaining strength or stability instead of losing it.)
Temas
daily life
|society
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definición
To slowly get worse or weaker over time.
To slowly become worse in condition, quality, or strength over time.
SUSTANTIVO
B1
3
Patrón de uso:
[someone] has tooth decay
Regular brushing and flossing can greatly reduce tooth decay.
A rendszeres fogmosás és fogselyemhasználat jelentősen csökkentheti a fogszuvasodás kockázatát.
Children are especially vulnerable to tooth decay if they eat a lot of sugar.
A gyerekek különösen hajlamosak a fogszuvasodásra, ha sok cukrot esznek.
Her dentist found signs of decay in two of her molars.
Fluoride in drinking water helps prevent dental decay.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The boy has tooth decay because he eats a lot of candy.
A fiú fogai szuvasak, mert sok cukorkát eszik.
I go to the dentist every year to check for tooth decay.
Évente járok fogorvoshoz, hogy ellenőrizze, nincs-e fogszuvasodásom.
Good brushing helps stop tooth decay.
She lost the tooth because the decay was very bad.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes say *"teeth decay" as a noun phrase (e.g., *"He has teeth decay"). The natural phrase is "tooth decay" or "decay in his teeth."
Significado
damage to teeth from bacteria
Colocaciones
tooth decay
|prevent tooth decay
|severe tooth decay
|early tooth decay
|risk of tooth decay
|signs of tooth decay
Sinónimos
cavities (Everyday word for holes caused by tooth decay; refers to the holes, not the process itself.)
|
dental caries (Technical medical term used by dentists and in health writing.)
Antónimos
healthy teeth (Describes teeth without decay or damage.)
Temas
health
|daily life
|body
Definición
A problem in teeth where bacteria slowly eat the tooth and make a hole.
Damage to a tooth caused by bacteria that slowly destroy the hard surface, often forming a cavity.
VERBO
B2
4
Patrón de uso:
[organic matter] decays
The fallen leaves will decay and enrich the soil.
A lehullott levelek lebomlanak, és gazdagítják a talajt.
Food scraps decay faster in a warm, moist environment.
Az ételmaradékok meleg, nedves környezetben gyorsabban lebomlanak.
If you leave the fruit out in the sun, it will quickly decay.
As the animal decays, it provides nutrients for other organisms.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Dead plants decay on the ground.
Az elhalt növények lebomlanak a földön.
The apple began to decay after a few days.
Az alma néhány nap után rothadni kezdett.
In the forest, old trees fall and decay.
The body will decay if it is not buried or burned.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "decay" only for man‑made things and forget it is common in science for natural rotting. For natural processes, "decay," "rot," and "decompose" are all possible, but "decay" sounds slightly more formal or scientific.
Significado
to rot or decompose naturally
Colocaciones
leaves decay
|dead plants decay
|food decays
|organic matter decays
|quickly decays
|decays on the forest floor
Sinónimos
rot (Very close everyday synonym; can sound slightly more informal or vivid.)
|
decompose (More technical or scientific; common in biology and environmental science.)
Antónimos
preserve (Means to keep something from decaying or changing.)
Temas
science
|environment
|nature
Definición
When dead plants, animals, or food slowly break apart and change into simpler material.
To break down, especially of dead plants or animals, as natural processes or microorganisms change them into simpler substances.
SUSTANTIVO
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Patrón de uso:
decay of [quantity]
The graph shows the exponential decay of the substance over time.
A grafikon az anyag mennyiségének időbeli exponenciális csökkenését mutatja.
Engineers had to account for signal decay in the long cable.
A mérnököknek számolniuk kellett a hosszú kábelben fellépő jelgyengüléssel.
Radioactive decay is described by a characteristic half-life.
The model predicts a rapid decay in vibration amplitude.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The chart shows the decay of the chemical over ten days.
A diagram a vegyi anyag tíz nap alatti bomlását mutatja.
In physics class, we learned about radioactive decay.
Fizikaórán a radioaktív bomlásról tanultunk.
The teacher drew a curve to show how the energy slowly goes down, called decay.
Signal decay can be a problem in very long wires.
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse everyday "decay" with this technical sense. In science and math, "decay" usually refers to a numeric or measurable decrease over time, often with formulas, not just things getting old or dirty.
Significado
gradual decrease in a quantity
Colocaciones
radioactive decay
|exponential decay
|decay rate
|signal decay
|decay constant
|decay curve
Sinónimos
attenuation (Technical term often used for weakening of signals or waves.)
|
decrease (More general; not limited to a gradual, often exponential, process.)
Antónimos
growth (In mathematics and science, describes quantities increasing instead of decreasing.)
|
amplification (Used when a signal or effect is made stronger, the opposite of decay.)
Temas
science
|technology
Definición
In science, a slow and regular decrease in the amount or strength of something, often described with numbers.
In science and mathematics, a gradual reduction in the size, intensity, or amount of a measurable quantity over time, often following a predictable pattern.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
decay
AFI
GB/dɪkˈeɪ/
US/dɪkˈeɪ/
Sílabas y acento
de - cay (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cay)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: decay
- Plural: decay
Verb
- Base: decay
- 3rd Person Singular: decays
- Present Participle: decaying
- Past: decayed
Familia de palabras
Forms
decays
verb
decaying
verb
decayed
verb
Related words
Advanced or less common
decadence
noun
decadent
adjective
Expresiones
advanced decay
1/ədvˈænst dɪkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
very serious stage of decay
A late stage of decay where something is already very damaged or broken down.
Ejemplos
- The inspector found advanced decay in the wooden beams.
- Because of advanced decay, the tree had to be cut down.
- The tooth was in advanced decay and could not be saved.
decay over time
1/dɪkˈeɪ ˈoʊvɚ tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
to slowly get worse with time
To slowly become worse or weaker as time passes.
Ejemplos
- All organic materials will decay over time.
- Without proper care, the paint will decay over time.
- Memories can decay over time if they are not recalled.
exponential decay
1/ˌɛkspoʊnˈɛnʃəl dɪkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
technical
mathematical pattern of fast decrease
In math and science, a way something decreases where it goes down faster at first and then more slowly, following a special curve.
Ejemplos
- The scientist modeled the cooling process as exponential decay.
- The graph shows an exponential decay in the drug concentration.
- The teacher used an example of exponential decay to explain the function.
in a state of decay
1/ˈɪn ə stˈeɪt əv dɪkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
in very poor condition
In very bad condition because something has been getting worse for a long time.
Ejemplos
- The factory has been abandoned for years and is now in a state of decay.
- Many of the country’s roads are in a state of decay.
- The report described a healthcare system in a state of decay.
moral decay
1/mˈɔɹəl dɪkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
decline in moral standards
A slow loss of good behavior and shared ideas about right and wrong in a person or society.
Ejemplos
- Many critics see the show as a symbol of moral decay in modern culture.
- He blames moral decay for the rise in violent crime.
- Religious leaders often warn against the moral decay of society.
prevent tooth decay
1/pɹɪvˈɛnt tˈuθ dɪkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
stop teeth from getting damaged
To stop or reduce the damage that bacteria can do to your teeth.
Ejemplos
- Brushing twice a day helps prevent tooth decay.
- Dentists say that cutting down on sugar is important to prevent tooth decay.
- Fluoride treatments are used to prevent tooth decay in children.
signs of decay
1/sˈaɪnz əv dɪkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
evidence that something is decaying
Things you can see that show something is slowly getting worse.
Ejemplos
- There are clear signs of decay in the school buildings.
- The manager ignored the early signs of decay in the company’s performance.
- Cracks in the walls were the first signs of decay.
tooth decay
1/tˈuθ dɪkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
damage to teeth from bacteria
Damage to teeth caused by bacteria that slowly eat the tooth and make holes.
Ejemplos
- Too much sugar can cause tooth decay.
- Fluoride toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay.
- The dentist said he has early tooth decay and needs a filling.
urban decay
1/ˈɚbən dɪkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
decline of city areas
A slow process where buildings and streets in a city become old, broken, and dirty, often because people move away or there is no money for repairs.
Ejemplos
- The film explores themes of urban decay and social inequality.
- The government launched a program to fight urban decay in the inner city.
- Graffiti and empty shops are signs of urban decay in the neighborhood.
radioactive decay
1/ɹˌeɪdioʊˈæktɪv dɪkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
technical
process of unstable nuclei breaking down
The process in which unstable atoms slowly change into other atoms and give off radiation.
Ejemplos
- The rate of radioactive decay is described by the half-life.
- Scientists use the rate of radioactive decay to date ancient objects.
- Radioactive decay releases energy in the form of particles and radiation.
- Radioactive decay produces heat inside the Earth’s core.
- Scientists measured the radioactive decay of carbon to date the artifact.
- The chart shows how radioactive decay reduces the activity of the sample over time.