decomposition B2 Topic:Science & Research US /ˌdiːkəmpoʊˈzɪʃən/ UK /diːˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃən/ See IPA manual Freq #24341 Meanings 1 noun The process of rotting and breaking down, caused by bacteria or fungi. The dead animal was in an advanced state of decomposition when we found it. 2 noun The act of breaking something down into smaller parts for analysis. The decomposition of the problem into smaller steps made it easier to solve. 3 noun In chemistry, the breaking of a substance into two or more simpler substances. Heating the compound caused its decomposition into oxygen and a metal oxide. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · the process of rotting and... decayputrefaction 3 noun · in chemistry, the breaking... decomposition reaction Word family Forms decompositions Derived forms autodecompositionbranch-decompositiondecompositionaleigendecompositionnano-decompositionnanodecompositionnondecompositionphotodecompositionpredecomposition Related forms decompose Common collocations double decomposition Adjective + noun Etymology From de- + composition. Topics Science & Research External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # decomposition **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˌdiːkəmpoʊˈzɪʃən/ **IPA (UK):** /diːˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃən/ **Frequency rank:** 24341 ## Meanings 1. The process of rotting and breaking down, caused by bacteria or fungi. 2. The act of breaking something down into smaller parts for analysis. 3. In chemistry, the breaking of a substance into two or more simpler substances. ## Examples - The dead animal was in an advanced state of decomposition when we found it. - The decomposition of the problem into smaller steps made it easier to solve. - Heating the compound caused its decomposition into oxygen and a metal oxide. ## Derived Forms - autodecomposition - branch-decomposition - decompositional - eigendecomposition - nano-decomposition - nanodecomposition - nondecomposition - photodecomposition - predecomposition ## Related Forms - decompose ## Etymology From de- + composition. ## Topics - Science & Research markdown