verb
-cays; -cayed; -caying
to be slowly destroyed by natural processes :to be slowly broken down by the natural processes that destroy a dead plant or body [no obj]
[no obj] :to slowly lose strength, health, etc.
[no obj] of a building, area, etc. :to go slowly from a bad condition to a worse condition :to slowly enter a state of ruin
synonyms decay, decompose, rot, putrefy, and spoil mean to slowly fall apart and become destroyed by natural processes. decay is the most general of these terms. It often suggests a slow change from a state of strength or perfection.
noun
[noncount] :the process or result of decaying: such as
the process or result of being slowly destroyed by natural processes
the slow loss of strength, health, etc.
c of a building, area, etc. :the process or result of going slowly from a bad condition to a worse condition