decay學測 L5KK [dɪˈke] ｜ /dɪˈkeɪ/
腐爛；腐朽·傾頹；逐漸破敗·頹廢狀態；破敗景象·放射性衰變·電荷逐漸衰減
課本常見字，橫跨生物與物理情境
Without regular care, even a strong friendship can slowly decay into silence.
若不用心維繫，再深厚的友情也會漸漸衰退，終至無言。
一個畫面：沙子從指縫流失
指縫漏沙沙子不斷從手中流失，抓不住
蘋果爛心果肉從內部開始變軟發黑
老屋傾頹建築因年久失修逐漸倒塌
電量流失電池電力隨時間慢慢耗盡
義項
落葉腐爛C2verb腐爛；腐朽
Leaves left on the ground during the fall season will decay over time, returning nutrients to the soil.
秋天落在地上的葉子會隨時間腐爛，把養分歸還給土壤。
decay over timebegin to decay
工廠荒廢C2verb傾頹；逐漸破敗
The empty factory has been left to decay for over ten years.
這座空工廠已經荒廢腐朽超過十年。
left to decaydecay for years
老屋破敗C1noun頹廢狀態；破敗景象
The old house has fallen into decay after years without repair.
這棟老屋多年未整修，已陷入破敗。
fall into decaystate of decay
放射衰變C2noun放射性衰變
After years of decay, the radioactive material became safe to handle.
經過多年的衰變後，這種放射性物質變得可以安全處理。
radioactive decayyears of decay
電力衰減C1verb電荷逐漸衰減
Over time, a battery's charge will slowly decay if it is not used.
隨著時間過去，電池若不使用，電量會逐漸衰減。
battery charge decaysslowly decay
片語
tooth decay蛀牙 →牙齒蛀蝕；蛀牙
urban decay都市衰敗 →城市逐漸破敗蕭條
radioactive decay放射衰變 →放射性物質的衰變
decay rate衰減速率 →衰減或衰變的速率
fall into decay陷入破敗 →逐漸荒廢破敗
你會不會這樣說？
The dentist warned that too much sugar can cause tooth ___. (decay / delay)
看答案
decay
decay 是蛀牙腐爛，delay 是延遲，字形相近易混淆。
'The old house has fallen into decay after years without repair.' 這句中 decay 是哪種詞性？(A) 名詞 (B) 動詞
看答案
(A)
decay 前面接介系詞 into，作受詞用，是名詞。
字族
decayed 腐爛的；破敗的・decaying 逐漸腐朽的；正在崩壞的