decompose
To separate or break down into its componentsTo separate or break down (something) into its components.
» A prism decomposes light.
Ein Prisma zerlegt das Licht.
Призма расщепляет свет.
Призма розкладає світло.
Meaning
2 senses(transitive)To separate or break down (something) into its components.
Various fungi can decompose wood.
Our team decomposed this task into several subtasks that could be successfully distributed.
zerlegen, zerteilen, teilen
разлага́тьrazlagátʹ, разложи́тьrazložítʹ, разбира́тьrazbirátʹ
розклада́тиrozkladáty, розкла́стиrozklásty, розбиратиrozbyraty
break down
(intransitive)To rot, decay or putrefy.
Plastics can take centuries to decompose.
verrotten, verfallen, verfaulen
разлага́тьсяrazlagátʹsja, разложи́тьсяrazložítʹsja
розпадатисяrozpadatysja, розпастисяrozpastysja, розклада́тисяrozkladátysja
Examples
32 sentencesA prism decomposes light.
Призма розкладає світло. — aandrusiak
ruПризма расщепляет свет. — odexed
deEin Prisma zerlegt das Licht. — bluepie88
Didn't you know that bodies decompose?
ruТы разве не знал, что тела разлагаются? — Ooneykcall
The body has already started decomposing.
ruТруп уже начал разлагаться. — Wezel
Sami's body was decomposing in that closet.
The beer bottle contained a decomposing snail.
deIn der Bierflasche war eine verwesende Schnecke. — Yorwba
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
Borrowed from Middle French décomposer. Equivalent to de- + compose.Borrowed from Middle French décomposer. Equivalent to de- + compose.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
decomposes, decomposing, decomposed, decomposed| Base form | decompose · to decompose |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | decomposes |
| Present participle | decomposing |
| Past simple | decomposed |
| Past participle | decomposed |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
8 synonyms- separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts:break upbreak down
- break down:rotmoldermoulder
- lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current:disintegratedecay
Antonyms
3 antonymsWord family
9 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle