decay
intermediateB1/dɪˈkeɪ/ · de-cay
The process of rotting or decomposing.
Meanings
The process of rotting or decomposing.
سڑنے یا تحلیل ہونے کا عمل۔
زوال
zawaal
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
- food decay
- tooth decay
- organic decay
Example Sentences
The decay of the old building was evident.
پرانے عمارت کا زوال واضح تھا۔
Purane imarat ka zawaal wazeh tha.
Food decay can produce harmful bacteria.
کھانے کا سڑنا نقصان دہ بیکٹیریا پیدا کر سکتا ہے۔
Khanay ka sarna nuqsan deh bacteria paida kar sakta hai.
The scientist studied the decay of organic matter.
سائنسدان نے نامیاتی مادے کے زوال کا مطالعہ کیا۔
Scientist ne namiati maaday ke zawaal ka mutala kiya.
Easily Confused With
To rot or decompose; to decline in quality or quantity.
سڑنا یا تحلیل ہونا؛ معیار یا مقدار میں کمی آنا۔
سڑنا
sarna
Synonyms
Common Collocations
- to decay rapidly
- to decay slowly
- to decay due to neglect
Example Sentences
The fruits will decay if left out for too long.
اگر پھل زیادہ دیر باہر رہیں گے تو وہ سڑ جائیں گے۔
Agar phal zyada der bahar rahenge to woh sarr jayenge.
The abandoned building began to decay.
ترک کردہ عمارت سڑنے لگی۔
Tark karda imarat sarnay lagi.
Without care, the wooden furniture will decay.
بغیر دیکھ بھال کے، لکڑی کا فرنیچر سڑ جائے گا۔
Baghair dekh bhalkay, lakri ka furniture sar jaye ga.
Easily Confused With
Word Family
See Also
💡 Memory Tip
Think of decay as the opposite of a celebration; one is about life, the other about decline.
Visualize a fruit that starts rotting over time.
✍️ Urdu Poetry
بچھڑ کے تجھ سے، زوال میں ہوں بے سہارا کیوں کر دکھاؤں دل کی سچائی کا غبارا
Bichhar ke tujh se, zawaal mein hun be sahara Kyun kar dikhao dil ki sachai ka ghubara
Separated from you, I am helpless in decline How can I show the balloon of my heart's truth?
— Unknown, Unverified
* Poetry attribution is AI-generated and may require verification.
🗣️ Urdu Proverb
وقت کی قدر کرو، زوال آتا ہے۔
Waqt ki qadar karo, zawaal aata hai.
Value time, decline comes.
📖 Etymology
Origin: Old French "decayer" — to fall down, to decline
First known use: 14th century
The word 'decay' has its roots in the Old French 'decayer', which came from Latin 'decadere', meaning to fall down or to decline. Over time, it evolved in English to refer to the process of rot or decomposition.