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   decompose

   /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz/

   verb

   • 1. (with reference to a dead body or other organic matter) make or become rotten; decay or cause to decay: "the body had begun to decompose" Similar decayrotputrefygo badgo offspoilfesterperishdeterioratedegradebreak downbreak upmouldertechnical:mortifynecrotizesphacelatearchaic:corrupt
   • ▪ (with reference to a chemical compound) break down or cause to break down into component elements or simpler constituents: "many chemicals decompose rapidly under high temperature" Similar break upbreak apartfall apartfragmentdisintegratecrumbledissolvebreak downdecay
   • ▪ express (a number or function) as a combination of simpler components: "in how many ways can one decompose a number as a sum of squares?"

   Word Origin mid 18th century (in the sense ‘separate into simpler constituents’): from French décomposer, from de- (expressing reversal) + composer.

   Derivatives

   • 1. decomposable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 16

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • M

     3

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

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