1 to become bad or be slowly destroyed 腐朽;腐烂:
the decaying carcass of a dead sheep一头死羊的腐烂尸体 [SYN] rot 同义词为rot
2 to become weaker or less powerful 衰落;衰退:
His business empire began to decay.他的商业王国开始衰落。 ➔decayedadja decayed tooth 蛀牙
decay²
/dɪˈkeɪ ||; dɪˈke/noun
[U] the process or state of being slowly destroyed 腐朽;腐烂:
tooth decay蛀牙The old farm was in a terrible state of decay.这旧农场已经一片荒芜。
decay1/dIˋke; dIˈkeI/v [I] 1 to be slowly destroyed by a natural chemical process 腐烂: dead or decaying plants 死亡或腐烂的植物2 if buildings decay, they are slowly destroyed because no one takes care of them〔建筑物〕破败: Many prisons are old and decaying. 很多监狱都陈旧破败。 —decayed adj
decay2n [U] when something decays 腐烂﹐腐朽: tooth decay 蛀牙The house fell into decay . 那房子已破烂不堪。
decaydecaydecaysdecayeddecayingverb (decays, decaying, decayed)to become bad or be slowly destroyed: If you don't clean your teeth, they will decay.▶ decaynoun (no plural): tooth decay