decomposition

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This movement into lower soil layers is linked not only to the decomposition of organic material but also to biological activity, such as organisms that help break down leaves and redistribute particles.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

The researchers found the highest concentrations in the top layer of leaf litter, where decomposition has just begun.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

Bodies are wrapped in a shroud of biodegradable material such as silk or wool before being placed in a pressurised chamber with hot water and chemicals, speeding up decomposition.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

As decomposition speeds up, more CO2 from this enormous carbon store could enter the atmosphere.

From Science Daily • Feb. 24, 2026

But pathologists soon realized that too many variables—from the humidity in the air to the type of clothing on the corpse—affect the rate of decomposition to allow a precise calculation.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann