1. To resolve a compound into its component parts; to disintegrate. 2. To decay; to putrefy. [L. de, from, down, + com-pono, pp. -positus, to put together]
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de·com·pose .dē-kəm-'pōz vb, -posed; -pos·ing vt to separate into constituent parts or elements or into simpler compounds <\decompose water by electrolysis> vi to undergo chemical breakdown: DECAY, ROT <fruit \decomposes>
de·com·pos·able -'pō-zə-bəl adj
Medical dictionary. 2011.