decompose
verb · /dee-kuhm-POHZ/
To decompose means to slowly break down into smaller pieces or parts. Dead leaves, food scraps, and old logs can decompose and become part of the soil.
In a sentence
- "The pumpkin began to decompose in the garden, turning soft and sinking into the dirt."
- "Tiny fungi and insects help old leaves decompose into rich soil for new plants."