Spanish Conversation · Level 115
59 words
Spanish word
descomposición
Pronunciation
IPA/deskomposiˈθjon/
Meaning
- feminine noundecomposition
Example
La descomposición de la basura tarda años.
The decomposition of the garbage takes years.
More examples
La descomposición de los alimentos sin refrigeración ocurre en pocos días.
The decomposition of food without refrigeration occurs in a few days.
Core concept
Breaking a whole into its component parts.
Common phrases
descomposición orgánica
organic decomposition
descomposición de alimentos
decomposition of food
proceso de descomposición
process of decomposition
Similar words
degradación: Gradual loss of quality, function, or performance of a material or system.
putrefacción: Rotting of organic matter that produces foul smells, liquids, and tissue breakdown.
desintegración: Loss of cohesion as something comes apart into separate pieces or particles.
fragmentación: Breaking a large object into several smaller fragments or pieces.
Definition in Spanish
Indica el proceso de degradación o separación de las partes que forman un todo.
Word origin
Latin compositio combined with the prefix des- gives the sense 'undoing a composition', so the noun names the process of splitting a whole into its component parts.
Usage tips
- Used mostly in technical or formal contexts, while everyday talk about food rot uses estar podrido or echarse a perder.
Other meanings
- putrefactionnoun
- rotnoun
Opposites
- composicióncompositionnoun
- conservaciónconservationnoun
Related words
- descomponerdecomposeverb
- descompuestorottenadjective
- descomponibledecomposableadjective