decomposition

The process in which dead plants, animals, or other natural material break down and rot.

• Heat speeds up decomposition.
• The fallen leaves were already showing signs of decomposition.
• Bacteria play an important role in the decomposition of dead plants.

Similar words: decay, rotting

Common phrases: organic decomposition, decomposition process, rate of decomposition

The process of separating something into smaller parts so you can study or work with it.

• Decomposition makes the problem easier to study.
• The team used task decomposition to plan the work.
• This method allows the decomposition of a system into smaller parts.

How to use it: decomposition of something into something (We used decomposition of the task into smaller steps.)

Similar words: breakdown

Common phrases: problem decomposition, matrix decomposition, decomposition into parts