1. | 腐烂；腐朽the process or result of being destroyed by natural causes or by not being cared for (= of decaying) |
tooth decay 蛀牙 | |
The landlord had let the building fall into decay . 房东任由房子变得破烂不堪。 | |
The smell of death and decay hung over the town. 城镇上空弥漫着死亡和腐烂的气味。 |
2. | （社会、机构、制度等的）衰败，衰退，衰落the gradual destruction of a society, an institution, a system, etc. |
economic/moral/urban decay 经济衰退；道德败坏；城市衰落 | |
the decay of the old industries 旧工业的衰败 |
1. | [i][t] ~ (sth) （使）腐烂，腐朽to be destroyed gradually by natural processes; to destroy sth in this way |
decaying leaves/teeth/food 烂叶；蛀齿；腐烂食物 |
2. | [i] （建筑、地方等）破败，衰落，衰败if a building or an areadecays , its condition slowly becomes worse |
decaying inner city areas 衰败中的内城区 |
3. | [i] （力量、影响等）衰弱，衰退，衰减to become less powerful and lose influence over people, society, etc. |
decaying standards of morality 日趋低下的道德标准 |
