decompose, v.
(diːkəmˈpəʊz)
[a. F. décompose-r (16th c. in Littré), f. dé-, des- (de- I. 6) + composer to compose.]
1. trans. To separate or resolve into its constituent parts or elements. (Of the separation of substances into their chemical elements, of light into its constituent colours; also of force or motion. Cf. decomposition 2.)
| a 1751 Bolingbroke Ess. i. Hum. Knowl. (R.), The chemist who has..decomposed a thousand natural, and composed as many artificial bodies. 1805 Med. Jrnl. XIV. 272 Attempts to decompose water by the Galvanic pile. 1831 Brewster Optics vii. §66. 72 We have therefore by absorption decomposed green light into yellow and blue. c 1860 Faraday Forces Nat. i. 28, I can decompose this marble and change it. |
b. To disintegrate; to rot.
| 1841 W. Spalding Italy & It. Isl. I. 19 The seasons decompose its cliffs. |
c. fig. of immaterial things.
| 1796 Burke Lett. Noble Ld. Wks. VIII. 61 Analytical legislators, and constitution-venders, are quite as busy in their trade of decomposing organization. 1816 Scott Antiq. i, Were I compelled to decompose the motives of my worthy friend. 1846 Mill Logic Introd. §7, I do not attempt to decompose the mental operations in question into their ultimate elements. |
† d. Printing. To distribute (type that has been set up or composed). Obs.
| 1816 Singer Hist. Cards 153 Go and take out the pieces from the press, and decompose them. |
2. intr. (for refl.) To suffer decomposition or disintegration; to break up; to decay, rot.
| 1793 Beddoes Calculus, etc. 215 The mucus, contained in great quantities in the lungs, and which is continually decomposing. 1865 Sat. Rev. 11 Mar. 269/1 These broken armies decompose into bands of roving marauders. 1872 Huxley Phys. vii. 156 Such compounds as abound in the mineral world, or immediately decompose into them. Mod. Soon after death the softer parts of organized bodies begin to decompose. |