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# decay

verb (decay, decays, decayed, decaying); noun (decay — uncountable)

«decay» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To rot or break down slowly, as dead plants, animals and food do. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#m1)
2. To become weaker or worse over time, like an old building. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#m2)
3. As a noun, the process of rotting; "tooth decay" is holes in teeth caused by germs and sugar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science, decomposers like fungi, bacteria and worms make dead things decay, returning nutrients to the soil; this is part of the life cycle and compost. In health lessons, tooth decay is caused by sugar and germs, so we brush twice a day. Phrases: tooth decay, decay away, start to decay, in decay.

### Examples

- Leaves decay and turn into soil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#x1)
- Brush your teeth to stop tooth decay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#x2)
- The old log was decaying in the forest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#x3)
- Worms and fungi help things decay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#x4)
- The castle has fallen into decay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#x5)
- Sugary drinks cause tooth decay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#x6)
- But he feared nothing, except that his plums should decay, and this never happened. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: decayed, decaying. Spelling: d-e-c-a-y. Decay is a natural process that helps the soil. In science, things decay faster when warm and damp, and slower when cold or dry.

## In Jewish tradition

In science, decomposers like fungi, bacteria and worms make dead things decay, returning nutrients to the soil; this is part of the life cycle and compost. In health lessons, tooth decay is caused by sugar and germs, so we brush twice a day. Phrases: tooth decay, decay away, start to decay, in decay.

### Examples

- Notwithstanding the decay of the individual, the genus is produced by the antithesis of man and wife. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/decay/#x1)
- And Judah said: 'The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.' (Writings NEH.4.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/decay/#x2)

### Note

Regular verb: decayed, decaying. Spelling: d-e-c-a-y. Decay is a natural process that helps the soil. In science, things decay faster when warm and damp, and slower when cold or dry.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «decay» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decay/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«decay» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/decay.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «decay» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/decay/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«decay» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/decay.html) on Mova free.