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# deterioration

noun (deterioration — mostly uncountable)

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

## Everyday

1. The process of becoming worse in quality, condition or health. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterioration/#m1)
2. (science) The slow breaking down of materials, such as wood rotting or metal rusting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterioration/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science: deterioration of materials over time — rust, rot, fading. In health and family life: a doctor may notice a deterioration in a patient's condition. In geography and history: deterioration of buildings, roads, or relations between countries. Phrases: «deterioration in», «deterioration of», «rapid deterioration», «a sudden deterioration».

### Examples

- There has been a deterioration in the weather, so the match is cancelled. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterioration/#x1)
- The nurse watched for any deterioration in Grandma's health. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterioration/#x2)
- The deterioration of the old bridge made it unsafe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterioration/#x3)
- Rust causes the deterioration of iron gates. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterioration/#x4)
- Teachers noticed a deterioration in his handwriting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterioration/#x5)
- Damp led to the deterioration of the books in the shed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterioration/#x6)

### Note

Verb: «deteriorate» (to get worse). Spelling: de-te-ri-o-ra-tion; many people wrongly say «deteoration» — keep the «-ior-». Opposite: «improvement».

## On Mova

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