What is the Latin word for decompose?

The usual Latin words for “decompose” are soleō, dissolvō, resolvō; also dīluō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“decompose” in Latin

soleōto be accustomed, used to, in the habit of dissolvōto unloose, disunite, separate, dissolve, destroy; to pay, discharge (a debt etc.); to abolish, abrogate, annul resolvōto release, loosen, unloose, unbind, disentangle, relax, dissolve; to enfeeble; to cancel, dispel dīluōto wash away; to drench or moisten; to purge, clear or empty (the bowels)

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

decompose

To resolve into component parts, solvere; dissolvere; resolvere: diluere (dissolve it). Vid: DISSOLVE.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for decompose?: The usual Latin words for “decompose” are soleō, dissolvō, resolvō; also dīluō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.