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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Decomposition \De*com'po*si"tion\, noun [Pref. de- (in sense 3 intensive) + composition: cf. F. d['e]composition. Cf. {Decomposition}.]
1. The act or process of resolving the constituent parts of a compound body or substance into its elementary parts; separation into constituent part; analysis; the decay or dissolution consequent on the removal or alteration of some of the ingredients of a compound; disintegration; as, the decomposition of wood, rocks, etc.
2. The state of being reduced into original elements.
3. Repeated composition; a combination of compounds. [Obs.]
{Decomposition of forces}. Same as {Resolution of forces}, under {Resolution}.
{Decomposition of light}, the division of light into the prismatic colors.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
decomposition
noun
1: the analysis of a vector field [syn: {vector decomposition}]
2: in a decomposed state [syn: {disintegration}]
3: (chemistry) separation of a substance into two or more substances that may differ from each other and from the original substance [syn: {decomposition reaction}]
4: the organic phenomenon of rotting [syn: {decay}]
5: (biology) decaying caused by bacterial or fungal action [syn: {rot}, {rotting}, {putrefaction}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
48 Moby Thesaurus words for "decomposition": ablation, atomization, biodegradability, biodegradation, breakup, caries, carrion, corrosion, corruption, crumbling, decay, degradability, degradation, dilapidation, disintegration, disjunction, disorganization, dissolution, dry rot, erosion, foulness, gangrene, incoherence, mildew, mold, mortification, necrosis, oxidation, oxidization, putrefaction, putrescence, putridity, putridness, rancidity, rancidness, rankness, ravages of time, resolution, rot, rottenness, rust, slough, sphacelation, sphacelus, spoilage, tooth decay, wear, wear and tear
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