noun
the process or result of being destroyed by natural causes or by not being cared for (= of decaying) 腐烂；腐朽
tooth decay
蛀牙
The landlord had let the building fall into decay.
房东任由房子变得破烂不堪。
The smell of death and decay hung over the town.
城镇上空弥漫着死亡和腐烂的气味。
the gradual destruction of a society, an institution, a system, etc. （社会、机构、制度等的）衰败，衰退，衰落
economic/moral/urban decay
经济衰退；道德败坏；城市衰落
the decay of the old industries
旧工业的衰败
verb
~ (sth)to be destroyed gradually by natural processes; to destroy sth in this way （使）腐烂，腐朽 SYN rot
decaying leaves/teeth/food
烂叶；蛀齿；腐烂食物