Decay may refer to:

Science and technology

* Bit decay, in computing * Decay time (fall time), in electronics *

Distance decay Distance decay is a geographical term which describes the effect of distance on cultural or spatial interactions. The distance decay effect states that the interaction between two locales declines as the distance between them increases. Once the ...

, in geography * Software decay, in computing

Biology

Decomposition Decomposition is the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, water, simple sugars and mineral salts. The process is a part of the nutrient cycle and is ess ...

of organic matter * Mitochondrial decay, in genetics *

Tooth decay Tooth decay, also known as caries,The word 'caries' is a mass noun, and is not a plural of 'carie'.'' is the breakdown of teeth due to acids produced by bacteria. The resulting cavities may be a number of different colors, from yellow to black ...

(dental caries), in dentistry

Physics

* Optical decay, in quantum physics *

Orbital decay Orbital decay is a gradual decrease of the distance between two orbiting bodies at their closest approach (the periapsis) over many orbital periods. These orbiting bodies can be a planet and its satellite, a star and any object orbiting it, or ...

, the process of prolonged reduction in the height of a satellite's orbit *

Particle decay In particle physics, particle decay is the spontaneous process of one unstable subatomic particle transforming into multiple other particles. The particles created in this process (the ''final state'') must each be less massive than the original ...

Radioactive decay Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is conside ...

* False vacuum decay

Mathematics

Exponential decay A quantity is subject to exponential decay if it decreases at a rate proportional to its current value. Symbolically, this process can be expressed by the following differential equation, where is the quantity and (lambda Lambda (; uppe ...

Psychology and sociology

Decay theory The Decay theory is a theory that proposes that memory fades due to the mere passage of time. Information is therefore less available for later retrieval as time passes and memory, as well as memory strength, wears away. When an individual learns s ...

, in psychology and memory * Social decay (decadence), in sociology *

Urban decay Urban decay (also known as urban rot, urban death or urban blight) is the sociological process by which a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude. There is no single process that leads to urban decay. ...

, in sociology

Entertainment

* Network decay (channel drift), in television programming *

Decay (DC Comics) Decay is the name of three fictional characters owned by DC Comics. The first was an enemy of the pre-''Crisis'' Supergirl, while the second appeared as a villain in the ''Wonder Woman'' comic book series. The third version appeared in The New 52 ...

, a comic book character * '' Half-Life: Decay'', a 2001 video game add-on * Deekay, a Danish production team *

Decay (professional wrestling) Decay was a professional wrestling stable (professional wrestling), stable that performed in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). They made their debut on January 26, 2016 as the trio of Abyss (wrestler), Abyss, Crazzy Steve and Rosemary (wrest ...

, a professional wrestling stable in TNA Wrestling

Film

* ''Decay'' (2012 film), a 2012 zombie film set at the Large Hadron Collider * ''Decay'' (2015 film), a 2015 American film

Music

* how quickly the sound drops to the sustain level after the initial peak, see

ADSR envelope In sound and music, an envelope describes how a sound changes over time. For example, a piano key, when struck and held, creates a near-immediate initial sound which gradually decreases in volume to zero. An envelope may relate to elements such ...

* "Decay" (Ride song) * "Decay" (Biohazard song) * "Decay" (Sevendust song), 2013 * '' Decay Music'', 1976 album by

Michael Nyman Michael Laurence Nyman, Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 23 March 1944) is an English composer, pianist, libretto, librettist, musicologist, and filmmaker. He is known for numerous film soundtrack, scores (many written during his lengthy ...

* ''

In Decay ''In Decay'' is a compilation album by American electronic musician Seth Haley's project Com Truise, released on July 16, 2012, by the independent record label Ghostly International. It is a collection of tracks that, prior to the release, wer ...

'', 2012 album by

Com Truise Seth Haley, known by his stage name Com Truise, is an American electronic musician and DJ. His stage name is a spoonerism of the name of American actor Tom Cruise. Biography Prior to 2010, Haley had released music under the pseudonyms Sarin Sun ...

* '' The Years of Decay'', 1989 album by

Overkill (band) Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many lineup changes, leaving bassist D.D. Verni and lead vocalist Bobby Ellsworth, Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth as the only remaining original members. Th ...

Other

* Beta decay (finance)