decompose
gb/dˌikəmpˈoʊz/ us/dˌikəmpˈoʊz/
B2
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
B2
process
1
rot and break down
If dead plants, animals, food, or waste decompose, they rot and become simpler natural substances.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] decomposes; [organism/microbe] decomposes [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Do not use decompose for ordinary mechanical breaking, like a glass breaking on the floor.
Synonymes
decay (common for gradual natural breakdown)
|
rot (more informal and often suggests a bad smell)
|
break down (more general and less specifically about decay)
Antonymes
preserve (keep from decaying or breaking down)
|
remain intact (not break down into parts or substances)
Collocations
decompose naturally
|decompose quickly
|decompose slowly
|decomposing body
|decomposing leaves
|organic matter decomposes
|food waste decomposes
|bacteria decompose
|microbes decompose
|begin to decompose
Thèmes
nature
|biology
|environment
|waste
Exemples
- Fallen leaves decompose and return nutrients to the soil.
- The body had already begun to decompose in the heat.
- Compost works because bacteria and fungi decompose food scraps and garden waste.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Fruit decomposes faster in warm weather.
- Dead plants decompose in the soil.
Verbe
technical
C1
process
2
chemically break into simpler substances
In chemistry, if a substance decomposes, it changes into simpler substances.
Schéma d’usage :
[substance] decomposes; decompose [substance] into [substances]
Erreur fréquente :
In science, decompose usually means a chemical change, not just separating a mixture by hand.
Synonymes
break down (less technical and more general)
|
disintegrate (often physical rather than chemical)
|
dissociate (technical; often about molecules or ions separating)
Antonymes
combine (join substances together rather than split them apart)
|
synthesize (produce a compound from simpler materials)
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
Thèmes
chemistry
|science
|materials
Exemples
- Hydrogen peroxide slowly decomposes into water and oxygen.
- Some plastics release harmful chemicals when they decompose under high heat.
- The experiment showed how light can decompose the compound.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Heat can decompose some chemicals.
- The compound decomposes into two simpler substances.
Verbe
technical
C1
action
3
divide into smaller parts
To break a complex problem, system, or object into smaller parts for study or work.
Schéma d’usage :
decompose [something] into [parts/components/tasks]
Erreur fréquente :
This use is more formal or technical than break down; in everyday speech, break down a problem is usually more natural.
Synonymes
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)
Antonymes
combine (put parts together rather than separate them)
|
integrate (join parts into a whole system)
|
assemble (build a whole from separate 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
Thèmes
analysis
|computing
|mathematics
|engineering
|problem_solving
Exemples
- The team decomposed the project into smaller tasks with clear deadlines.
- In image processing, the algorithm decomposes the picture into layers of detail.
- Engineers often decompose a complex system into modules before designing it.
Exemples pédagogiques
- We decomposed the problem into three smaller questions.
- The program decomposes the task into simple steps.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
decompose
API
GB/dˌikəmpˈoʊz/
US/dˌikəmpˈoʊz/
Syllabes et accentuation
de - com - pose (3 syllabes)
Stress on 3rd syllable (pose)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: decompose
- 3rd Person Singular: decomposes
- Present Participle: decomposing
- Past: decomposed
Expressions
Aucune expression n’est encore associée à cette entrée.