Decay may refer to:

Science and technology

* Bit decay, in computing * Decay time (fall time), in electronics * Distance decay, 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 (dental caries), in dentistry

Physics

* Optical decay, in quantum physics * Orbital decay, 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, in psychology and memory * Social decay (decadence), in sociology * Urban decay, in sociology

Entertainment

* Network decay (channel drift), in television programming * Decay (DC Comics), 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 * '' In Decay'', 2012 album by Com Truise * '' The Years of Decay'', 1989 album by Overkill (band)

Other

* Beta decay (finance)