decompose

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌdikəmˈpoʊz/ UK /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to decay, or to break down into component parts

Fallen leaves slowly decompose into rich soil.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to decay, or to break down... decay rot putrefy disintegrate break down molder spoil dissolve

Opposites

compose combine synthesize integrate unite

Word family

Derived forms decompositiondecomposerdecomposabledecomposed

Related forms compose composition

Simplified etymology

Decompose, recorded from the mid-18th century, ultimately derives from Latin compositum, “something put together,” which is also the source of compose, composition, and component.

Etymology

From French décomposer, from de- ('reverse, apart') plus composer ('to put together'), from Latin compōnere, from com- ('together') plus pōnere ('to put, place').

de- Latin compōnere Latin pōnere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# decompose

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˌdikəmˈpoʊz/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz/

## Meanings
1. to decay, or to break down into component parts

## Examples
- Fallen leaves slowly decompose into rich soil.

## Synonyms
- decay
- rot
- putrefy
- disintegrate
- break down
- molder
- spoil
- dissolve

## Antonyms
- compose
- combine
- synthesize
- integrate
- unite

## Derived Forms
- decomposition
- decomposer
- decomposable
- decomposed

## Related Forms
- compose
- composition

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: de-
- Root: compōnere
- Root: pōnere

## Etymology
From French décomposer, from de- ('reverse, apart') plus composer ('to put together'), from Latin compōnere, from com- ('together') plus pōnere ('to put, place').

## AI Etymology
Decompose is from French décomposer, from de- ('reverse, apart') plus composer ('to put together'), from Latin compōnere, from com- ('together') plus pōnere ('to put, place'). In present-day use, it means to decay, or to break down into component parts. Derived formations include decomposition, decomposer, decomposable, and decomposed. Related vocabulary includes compose and composition.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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