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deteriorate

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Deteriorate is defined as to make or become worse or lower in value or quality.

(verb)

An example of deteriorate is a child's mood going from happy to crying.
An example of deteriorate is an orange going from ripe to moldy.

See deteriorate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb, intransitive verb deteriorated, deteriorating

to make or become worse; lower in quality or value; depreciate

Origin: < LL deterioratus, pp. of deteriorare, to make worse < L deterior, worse, inferior < *deter, below < de-, from + -ter, compar. suffix

Related Forms:

deterioration noun

See deteriorate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, de·te·ri·o·rat·ing, de·te·ri·o·rates

verb, transitive

To diminish or impair in quality, character, or value: Time and neglect had deteriorated the property.

verb, intransitive

To grow worse; degenerate: The weather deteriorated overnight. His health had deteriorated while he was in prison.
To weaken or disintegrate; decay: The nation's highways are deteriorating at a rapid pace.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin dēteriōrāre, dēteriōrāt-

Origin: , from Latin dēterior, worse; see de- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: