See also: décomposé and décompose

English edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Middle French décomposer. Equivalent to de- +‎ compose.

Pronunciation edit

  • enPR: dē"kəm-pōz', IPA(key): /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: de‧com‧pose
  • Rhymes: -əʊz

Verb edit

decompose (third-person singular simple present decomposes, present participle decomposing, simple past and past participle decomposed)

  1. (transitive) To separate or break down (something) into its components; to disintegrate or fragment.
    Various fungi can decompose wood.
  2. (intransitive) To rot, decay or putrefy.
    Plastics can take centuries to decompose.

Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

Italian edit

Verb edit

decompose

  1. third-person singular past historic of decomporre