Commentary: DECAY[+process][+gradual][+deterioration][+physical/+social]
NOTE: can be a nominalization - the decay of his teeth -> his teeth decayed
Examples:
Fluoride is supposed to help prevent the decay of teeth. (refers to the process)
The preacher warned of the moral decay threatening our youth.
The ancient temple was in an advanced state of decay when they discovered it.
Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 4
Commentary: DECAY[+process][+gradual][+decrease][+strength][+signal]
NOTE: refers to a dying away of a signal, e.g., acoustic or electromagnetic
Examples:
The decay of acoustic signals is proportional to the inverse of the distance squared.
This electric current exhibits an exponential decay. (decreasing in power)
Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2
Commentary: DECAY[+entity][+organic][+rot]
NOTE: refers to actual instance of rotten things, -not- the process of deterioration.
Examples:
The new plants were nourished by the layer of decay on top of them.
The dentist removed a pocket of decay from John's molar.
The corpses on the battlefield had become a biohazard of decay and disease.
Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3
Commentary: DECAY[+process][+gradual][+disintegration][+radioactive]
Examples:
The half-life of carbon-14's decay makes it useful to determine the age of fossils.
They detected the emission of alpha particles during radioactive decay of the isotope.
The was a beta decay problem on the nuclear engineering midterm exam.
Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5