Spell Bee Word: decomposition

Basic Details

Word: Decomposition

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: The slow breaking down of dead plants, animals or other matter into simpler substances; rotting.

Synonyms: decay, rotting, breakdown

Antonyms: growth

How to Spell Decomposition

Syllables: de - com - po - si - tion

Tricky part: After comp comes o then i: com-po-si-tion. The ending is tion, said shun, not sion.

Watch out for: decompositon, decomposision, decomposetion

Memory tip: Take composition, the word from your English class, and put de in front.

Usage Examples

Example 1: Decomposition of kitchen waste in a compost pit makes manure.

Example 2: In hot, wet weather, decomposition happens faster.

Example 3: The smell in the dustbin came from the decomposition of old vegetables.

Fun Fact

Earthworms, fungi and bacteria are nature's decomposers. Without them, dead leaves and fallen trees would keep piling up on the forest floor.

Practise the CREST Way

Word Makeup

Choose the prefix that completes the word:

____composition

a) dis
b) dee
c) de
d) di

Word Connection

Choose the synonym of the word: decomposition

a) harvest
b) freshness
c) decay
d) growth

Word Cookie

Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:

decomp_s_tion

a) o, i
b) o, e
c) o, o
d) a, i

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of these is an example of decomposition?

a) a dead leaf rotting into soil
b) water freezing into ice
c) a kite flying
d) a seed growing into a plant

2. Living things that cause decomposition are called ____.

a) pollinators
b) producers
c) predators
d) decomposers