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

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

From Science Daily • Feb. 24, 2026

Dr Shepherd said the condition of her body was "consistent with mummification" as the cold winter air coming in through the open window "effectively turned the room into a fridge" and slowed down decomposition.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

Slower colonization could delay carbon decomposition and reduce habitat formation for the many species that typically live inside Xylophaga burrows.

From Science Daily • Dec. 28, 2025

It was a smell of general decomposition but one with universal dimensions, one that an athlete could identify until the day of his death.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy