Word
decaying
Phoneticsde·cay·ing
US/dɪˈkeɪɪŋ/
UK/dɪkˈeɪɪŋ/
Definition
adj. rotting or slowly breaking down because of age or natural processes. You use this to describe things like old buildings or fallen leaves that are falling apart.
adj. undergoing a process of decomposition or gradual decline in quality, health, or structural integrity. Often used to describe organic matter or urban environments.
Examples
“The forest floor is covered in decaying leaves.”
“The city is trying to renovate several decaying buildings in the old industrial district to attract new businesses.”
“The documentary explores the haunting beauty of decaying mansions, where peeling wallpaper and crumbling masonry tell the story of a forgotten era of architectural grandeur.”
Examples
simple
“The forest floor is covered in decaying leaves.”
contextual
“The city is trying to renovate several decaying buildings in the old industrial district to attract new businesses.”
complex
“The documentary explores the haunting beauty of decaying mansions, where peeling wallpaper and crumbling masonry tell the story of a forgotten era of architectural grandeur.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun to describe a state of rot or decline.
Real-World Examples
“He knows the sport cannot survive for ever on a finite, decaying stock.” Etymology
From decay + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.