Definitions for decomposition
-kɒm pəˈzɪʃ ənde·com·po·si·tion

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:1.0 / 2 votes

1. decomposition, vector decompositionnoun

   the analysis of a vector field

2. decomposition, disintegrationnoun

   in a decomposed state

3. decomposition, decomposition reaction, chemical decomposition reactionnoun

   (chemistry) separation of a substance into two or more substances that may differ from each other and from the original substance

4. decomposition, rot, rotting, putrefactionnoun

   (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action

5. decay, decompositionnoun

   the organic phenomenon of rotting

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. decompositionnoun

   A biological process through which organic material is reduced to e.g. compost

2. decompositionnoun

   The act of taking something apart, e.g. for analysis

3. decompositionnoun

   The splitting (of e.g. a matrix, an atom or a compound) into constituent parts

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Decompositionnoun

   The act of compounding things already compounded.

   Etymology: decompositus, Lat.

   We consider what happens in the compositions and decompositions of saline particles. Boyle.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Decomposition

   Decomposition or rot is the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, water, simple sugars and mineral salts. The process is a part of the nutrient cycle and is essential for recycling the finite matter that occupies physical space in the biosphere. Bodies of living organisms begin to decompose shortly after death. Animals, such as worms, also help decompose the organic materials. Organisms that do this are known as decomposers or detritivores. Although no two organisms decompose in the same way, they all undergo the same sequential stages of decomposition. The science which studies decomposition is generally referred to as taphonomy from the Greek word taphos, meaning tomb. Decomposition can also be a gradual process for organisms that have extended periods of dormancy.One can differentiate abiotic decomposition from biotic decomposition (biodegradation). The former means "the degradation of a substance by chemical or physical processes", e.g., hydrolysis; the latter means "the metabolic breakdown of materials into simpler components by living organisms", typically by microorganisms.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Decompositionnoun

   the act or process of resolving the constituent parts of a compound body or substance into its elementary parts; separation into constituent part; analysis; the decay or dissolution consequent on the removal or alteration of some of the ingredients of a compound; disintegration; as, the decomposition of wood, rocks, etc

2. Decompositionnoun

   the state of being reduced into original elements

3. Decompositionnoun

   repeated composition; a combination of compounds

4. Etymology: [Pref. de- (in sense 3 intensive) + composition: cf. F. dcomposition. Cf. Decomposition.]

FreebaseRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Decomposition

   Decomposition is the process by which organic substances are broken down into simpler forms of matter. The process is essential for recycling the finite matter that occupies physical space in the biome. Bodies of living organisms begin to decompose shortly after death. Although no two organisms decompose in the same way, they all undergo the same sequential stages of decomposition. The science which studies decomposition is generally referred to as taphonomy from the Greek word τάφος taphos, meaning tomb. One can differentiate abiotic from biotic decomposition. The former means "degradation of a substance by chemical or physical processes, e.g. hydrolysis. The latter one means "the metabolic breakdown of materials into simpler components by living organisms", typically by microorganisms.

The Standard Electrical DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Decomposition

   The reduction of a compound substance into its constituents, as in chemical analysis. The constituents may themselves be compounds or proximate constituents, or may be elemental or ultimate constituents.

Matched Categories

1. • Biology
   • Decay
   • Organic Phenomenon
   • Vector Algebra

How to pronounce decomposition?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say decomposition in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of decomposition in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of decomposition in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of decomposition in a Sentence

1. Joe McCann:

   … There was so much decomposition and there was nothing, but bones left, she was skeletonized basically … But I think based on the crime scene, what it looked like and what items were recovered — it was pretty consisted with her having been murdered at that site.

2. Cyril Wecht:

   The body has undergone extensive decomposition at this point, now it's all over. There's no way meaningful scientific studies can be done. But there’s no question about the pneumonia. This was shown and proven. There’s no question at all about the advanced pneumonia or the iron deficiency. That cannot be avoided… Still, it’s all too late now.

3. Leuven PhD student Elien Rosier:

   We sampled the remains during six months of decomposition and we could identify 452 different compounds, from all those compounds we searched for human specific compounds using principal component analysis and we could identify a combination of eight compounds that were specific for human and pig remains.

4. Marion Barber II:

   He was real specific in his will that he didn’t want that, we are going to respect that. But in the condition his body was in, according to the examiner, that probably would have been a moot point because of the decomposition.

5. Pat Stayton:

   Both of the dogs reacted to the trunk of the silver Nissan that the defendant had driven and that the blue laundry basket was recovered from, indicating that the dogs were responding to the scent of human decomposition in the vehicle.

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