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decay science definition

Noun
  1. The breaking down or rotting of organic matter through the action of bacteria, fungi, or other organisms; decomposition.
  2. The spontaneous transformation of a relatively unstable particle into a set of new particles. For example, a pion decays spontaneously into a muon and an antineutrino. The decay of heavy or unstable atomic nuclei (such as uranium or carbon-10) into more stable nuclei and emitted particles is called radioactive decay . The study of particle decay is fundamental to subatomic physics. See more at fundamental force, radioactive decay.
Verb
To undergo decay.

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