autodecomposition

noun

The spontaneous decomposition of a substance, especially in an explosive manner.

OriginEnglish decomposition ← Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew →
Scrabble 24
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Meanings

nounautodecomposition (usually uncountable, plural autodecompositions)

plural autodecompositions

  1. uncountableusuallychemistryThe spontaneous decomposition of a substance, especially in an explosive manner.

Origin

  1. Proto-Hellenic*autós
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
  3. Ancient Greekαὖ (aû)
  4. Ancient Greekτόν (tón)
  5. Ancient Greekαὐτός (autós)
  6. Ancient Greekαὐτο- (auto-)
  7. Englishauto-
  8. Englishdecomposition
  9. Englishautodecomposition

From auto- + decomposition.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

autodecomposition. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autodecomposition

MLA

“autodecomposition.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autodecomposition. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “autodecomposition,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autodecomposition.

Source: autodecomposition on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.