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Verb  To Decompose Break Constituent Parts Chemical Synonyms

Title decompose
Text
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
de·com·pose

 \\ˌdē-kəm-ˈpōz\\ verb
 ETYMOLOGY  French décomposer, from dé- de + composer to compose
 DATE  1718
transitive verb
1. to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds
    decompose water by electrolysis
    decompose a word into its base and affixes
2. 
rot
intransitive verb
: to break up into constituent parts by or as if by a chemical process : 
decay
rot
    fruit decomposes
Synonyms: see 
decay
• de·com·pos·abil·i·ty 
 \\-ˌpō-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē\\ noun
• de·com·pos·able 
 \\-ˈpō-zə-bəl\\ adjective
• de·com·po·si·tion 
 \\(ˌ)dē-ˌkäm-pə-ˈzi-shən\\ noun
English Etymology
decompose
  1762, from de- + compose. Sense of "putrefy" is first recorded 1777.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
decompose
de·com·pose 7di:kEm5pEuzNAmE -5pouz / verb1. to be destroyed gradually by natural chemical processes
   腐烂
   SYN  
decay
 , 
rot
 :
   [V] 
   a decomposing corpse 
   正在腐烂的尸体 
   As the waste materials decompose, they produce methane gas. 
   废物腐烂时会产生沼气。 
   [VN] 
   a decomposed body 
   已经腐烂了的尸体 
2. [VN , V] ~ (sth) (into sth) (technical 术语) to divide sth into smaller parts; to divide into smaller parts
   (使)分解
 de·com·pos·ition 7di:kCmpE5ziFnNAmE -kB:m- / noun [U] :
   the decomposition of organic waste 
   有机垃圾的分解 
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of English


decompose 
verb 
PHRASES badly/partially/partly decomposed His badly decomposed body was found many weeks later. 

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition
v. Function: verb 

1 
Synonyms: 
ANALYZE
, anatomize, break down, decompound, dissect, resolve 
Contrasted Words: combine, join, link, write; synthesize, unify; amalgamate, merge, mix 
Antonyms: compound 
2 
Synonyms: 
DECAY
, break down, crumble, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, rot, spoil, taint, turn 
Related Words: deliquesce, liquefy, melt; break up, dissolve
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
de·com·pose
\ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈpōz\ verb
Etymology: French décomposer, from dé- de- (from Old French des- ) + composer to compose — more at 
compose
transitive verb
1. 
 a. : to separate or resolve into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds
  < found that the water was decomposed into … hydrogen and oxygen — S.F.Mason >
 b. : to distinguish by analysis
  < were I compelled to decompose the motives of my worthy friend — Sir Walter Scott >
2. : to cause chemical disintegration of (organic matter) : 
rot
intransitive verb
: to break up into constituent elements : undergo chemical change : 
decay
rot
disintegrate
Synonyms: see 
decay

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