decomposition
Decomposition (noun) means the natural biological breakdown of organic matter, such as into compost. Example: “Decomposition of the leaf litter took several months.”
How to use decomposition
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe breaking-down of something — organic rot, or, more abstractly, splitting a thing into its parts for analysis.
Word forms
decompositions plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ of the leaf litter took several months.
Etymology
From de- + composition, mirroring French décomposition.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for decomposition
Frequently asked questions
What does “decomposition” mean?
The word “decomposition” means the natural biological breakdown of organic matter, such as into compost. In plain terms, the breaking-down of something — organic rot, or, more abstractly, splitting a thing into its parts for analysis.
How do you pronounce “decomposition”?
“Decomposition” is pronounced dee-kom-puh-ZIH-shuhn (/diːˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “decomposition” in a sentence?
Here is “decomposition” used in a sentence: “Decomposition of the leaf litter took several months.”
What part of speech is “decomposition”?
“Decomposition” is a noun.
Where does the word “decomposition” come from?
The word “decomposition” comes from French. From de- + composition, mirroring French décomposition.
Is “decomposition” a common word?
“Decomposition” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “decomposition” have?
“Decomposition” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the natural biological breakdown of organic matter, such as into compost.