The process of breaking down something complex into simpler parts or pieces, or the act of decaying or rotting.
From de- (reverse) + composition (putting together), from Latin componere. The prefix de- means to reverse or undo, so decomposition literally means undoing a composition, whether through separation or decay.
Decomposition is why dead leaves turn into soil—bacteria and fungi break down complex plant material into simple nutrients that feed new plants, completing a cycle that's been recycling Earth's elements for billions of years.
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