decay

Noun

• the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation

• an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying
  • the corpse was in an advanced state of decay
    
  • the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair
    

• the organic phenomenon of rotting

• a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current

• the process of gradually becoming inferior

Verb

• undergo decay or decomposition
  • The body started to decay and needed to be cremated
    

• fall into decay or ruin
  • The unoccupied house started to decay
    

• lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
  • the particles disintegrated during the nuclear fission process
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  radioactive decay , disintegration , decomposition , decline , crumble , dilapidate , disintegrate , decompose