de·cay / diˈkā/ • v. [intr.] (of organic matter) rot or decompose through the action of bacteria and fungi: [as adj.] (decayed) a decayed cabbage leaf | [as adj.] (decaying) the odor of decaying fish. ∎  [tr.] cause to rot or decompose: the fungus will decay soft timber. ∎  (of a building or area) fall into disrepair; deteriorate. ∎  decline in quality, power, or vigor: moral authority was decaying. ∎  Physics (of a radioactive substance, particle, etc.) undergo change to a different form by emitting radiation. ∎ technical (of a physical quantity) undergo a gradual decrease.• n. the state or process of rotting or decomposition. ∎  structural or physical deterioration: the old barn fell into decay. ∎  rotten matter or tissue: fluoride heals small spots of decay. ∎  the process of declining in quality, power, or vigor: moral decay. ∎  Physics the change of a radioactive substance, particle, etc., into another by the emission of radiation. ∎ technical gradual decrease in the magnitude of a physical quantity.ORIGIN: late Middle English: from Old French decair, based on Latin decidere ‘fall down or off,’ from de- ‘from’ + cadere ‘fall.’

Decay Woof! 1998

Katherine (Davies) is bored by dentist hubby Richard (Brock) and takes up with sleazy nightclub owner Ronnie (Storti), who offers to set up a hit on her spouse. But the hit man turns out to be a serial killer who specializes in strippers and—unbeknownst to his wife—the dentist has mob ties. The plot's actually more convoluted and not worth your time and effort. 86m/C VHS . Tamara Davies, Raymond Storti, Robert Z'Dar, Brian Brock, Ron von Gober; D: Jason Robert Stephens; W: Jason Robert Stephens; C: Dennis Devine; M: Jonathan Price.

decay XV. — OF. decair, by-form of decaoir, var. of dechaoir, decheoir (mod. déchoir):- Rom. *dēcadere, *dēcadēre, for L. dēcidere, f. DE- 1 + cadere fall.
Hence decay sb. XV.

decay (di-kay) n. (in bacteriology) the decomposition of organic matter due to microbial action.

decay See decomposition.