decompose

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Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French décomposer.

Pronunciation

• enPR: dē"kəm-pōz', IPA: /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz/

Verb

decompose (decomposes, present participle decomposing; simple past and past participle decomposed)

1. (transitive) To separate or break down (something) into its components; to disintegrate or fragment.

   Various fungi can decompose wood.

2. (intransitive) To rot, decay or putrefy.

   Plastics can take centuries to decompose.

Antonyms

• assemble

Translations

• French: décomposer
• German: zerlegen, zerteilen (transitiv); zerlegen, teilen (reflexiv); desintegrieren, dekomponieren
• Italian: decomporre
• Portuguese: decompor, descompor
• Russian: разлага́ть
• Spanish: descomponer

Translations

• French: se décomposer
• German: verrotten, verfallen, verfaulen, zerfallen, zersetzen
• Italian: decomporsi
• Portuguese: decompor
• Russian: разлага́ться
• Spanish: descomponerse

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