decompose

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

• enPR: dē"kəm-pōz', IPA^(key): /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz/

• Audio (Southern England)

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• Hyphenation: de‧com‧pose
• Rhymes: -əʊz

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.

• assemble

• decomposer
• photodecompose
• decomposition

decompose

1. third-person singular past historic of decomporre