Decay

DECAY

-verb

1. to decline or cause to decline gradually in health, prosperity, excellence, etc.; deteriorate; waste away

2. to rot or cause to rot as a result of bacterial, fungal, or chemical action; decompose

3. (intr.) (physics)

a. (of an atomic nucleus) to undergo radioactive disintegration

b. (of an elementary particle) to transform into two or more different elementary particles

4. (intr.) (physics) . (of a stored charge, magnetic flux, etc.) to decrease gradually when the source of energy has been removed

-noun

5. the process of decline, as in health, mentality, beauty, etc.

6. the state brought about by this process

7. decomposition, as of vegetable matter

8. rotten or decayed matter

9. (physics)

a.  radioactive decay

b. a spontaneous transformation of an elementary particle into two or more different particles

c. (of an excited atom or molecule) the losing of energy by the spontaneous emission of photons

10. (physics) . a gradual decrease of a stored charge, magnetic flux, current, etc., when the source of energy has been removed

11. (music) . the fading of a note

A monochrome crowd

A decay of some sort

Statue by Ellen Lindström