Word · Frequency #6007
decay
腐烂
The process or result of organic matter rotting, especially through microbial action.
- 1.
Rot; any processes or result of organic matter being gradually decomposed, especially by microbial action.
腐烂；有机物逐渐分解的过程或结果,尤指微生物作用
- 2.
the process of gradually becoming inferior
逐渐变劣的过程
- 3.
Deterioration of condition; loss of status, quality, strength, or fortune.
状况恶化；地位、质量、力量或财富的丧失
- 4.
a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
逐渐减少；如存储电荷或电流的衰减
- 5.
Radioactive decay; decomposition of an atom or its nucleus.
放射性衰变；原子或其原子核的分解
- 6.
the organic phenomenon of rotting
有机物腐烂的现象
- 7.
Particle decay; decomposition of a sub-atomic particle.
粒子衰变；亚原子粒子的分解
- 8.
Continuous decrease of a quantity.
数量的连续减少
- 9.
Array decay.
数组衰减
衰退；衰败；放射性衰变；衰减；递减；粒子衰变；数组衰减
In use
The decay of the old wooden fence was accelerated by the constant rain.
Dentists recommend regular brushing to prevent tooth decay.
The city's infrastructure has fallen into decay due to lack of maintenance.
Connections
Collocations
- tooth decay
- 蛀牙；龋齿
- Brushing your teeth regularly can prevent tooth decay.定期刷牙可以防止蛀牙。
- urban decay
- 城市衰败；城市衰退
- The report blames urban decay on a lack of investment.该报告将城市衰败归咎于缺乏投资。
- moral decay
- 道德败坏；道德沦丧
- Many believe that social media has accelerated moral decay.许多人认为社交媒体加速了道德败坏。
- radioactive decay
- 放射性衰变
- Radioactive decay produces heat and radiation.放射性衰变会产生热量和辐射。
- state of decay
- 破败状态；腐烂状态
- The old factory is in an advanced state of decay.这座旧工厂已处于严重破败的状态。
Idioms & figurative uses
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想：decay 里藏着 cay（小岛），海水日夜侵蚀小岛，使它逐渐腐烂崩塌——记住“腐烂、衰败、衰退”的意思。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：日常对话：食物或植物变坏、腐烂、牙科/健康：蛀牙（tooth decay）、生物/环境科学：有机物分解 该义项为中性词，日常和书面语都可用。多用于描述有机物（如食物、植物、牙齿）因微生物等自然作用而分解、变坏的过程；在生物学或环境科学中也是标准用词。
Grammar Note
作可数名词时通常指某一具体的衰退或腐烂实例。
Pronunciation & Spelling
day、say、delay、display、convey 的结尾都发重读的 /eɪ/，与 decay 押韵；decoy 是形近词，但 -oy 发 /ɔɪ/，读音完全不同。注意 /eɪ/ 可拼作 -ay 或 -ey。
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 2，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.