Decomposition

The act or process of resolving the constituent parts of a compound body or substance into its elementary parts; separation into constituent part; analysis; the decay or dissolution consequent on the removal or alteration of some of the ingredients of a compound; disintegration; as, the decomposition of wood, rocks, etc.

The state of being reduced into original elements.

Repeated composition; a combination of compounds.

The breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms

the organic phenomenon of rotting

(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action

(chemistry) separation of a substance into two or more substances that may differ from each other and from the original substance

in a decomposed state