Rotting: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to the process of decaying and breaking down, often leading to a foul smell. Used primarily with organic matter such as food or plants.

• The rotting fruits attracted a lot of flies.
• The smell of rotting garbage was unbearable.

Describes a gradual process of decomposition, often used for both organic and inorganic materials, such as teeth or a building. Can be neutral or negative.

• The dentist warned about the decay in his molar.
• The old house showed signs of decay after years of neglect.

A scientific term used to describe the breakdown process of organic matter into simpler forms. Often used in biological or environmental contexts.

• The decomposition of the leaf litter enriched the soil.
• Understanding the decomposition process helps in waste management.

Commonly used to describe food that has gone bad and is no longer safe to eat. Carries a sense of waste or loss.

• The milk is spoiling; it smells sour.
• Leaving the meat out of the fridge overnight led to its spoiling.

Often used to describe organic matter, especially food, that is breaking down or going bad with a foul smell as a result of bacterial or fungal activity. Can also describe metaphorical situations where a system or institution is deteriorating.

• The rotting fruit attracted a swarm of flies.
• The once-thriving neighborhood is now rotting due to neglect and crime.

Generally used to describe the gradual process of breaking down or deteriorating, often over a long period. Can be applied to organic matter, buildings, and even moral values. It’s more neutral compared to 'rotting' but can have a negative connotation.

• The wooden fence showed signs of decay.
• Urban decay is evident in many abandoned factories.

Primarily used in scientific or formal contexts to describe the breakdown of organic substances into simpler forms, often by bacterial or fungal activity. Less commonly used in everyday language.

• As soon as the animal died, its body began to decompose.
• Organic waste will decompose faster in a compost pile.

Typically used to refer to food that has gone bad or is no longer safe to eat due to bacteria or fungi. Can have a broader application to describe anything that has been ruined or degraded.

• The milk will spoil if left out of the fridge.
• We need to use the vegetables before they spoil.