decomposer
|de-com-pos-er|
🇺🇸
/ˌdiːkəmˈpoʊzər/
🇬🇧
/ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊzə/
organism that breaks down dead matter
Etymology
'decomposer' originates from English, formed by combining the prefix 'de-' meaning 'down' or 'away', and 'composer' from Latin 'componere' meaning 'to put together'.
'decomposer' was formed in modern English by adding the prefix 'de-' to 'composer', shifting the meaning to something that breaks down or separates.
Initially, 'decomposer' referred to something that decomposes, but in scientific contexts, it came to specifically mean organisms that break down dead matter.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organic material and recycles nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Fungi are important decomposers in the forest ecosystem.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/07 13:04