Decompose

Decompose is a verb meaning to separate something into its constituent parts or to decay. In general usage it can refer to physical disassembly, a chemical breakdown, or biological decay. The term derives from Latin decompōnere, undoing what has been composed.

Biology and ecology: Decomposition is the process by which organic matter is broken down by microbes, fungi, and detritivores, releasing nutrients and carbon back to the environment. In natural ecosystems, decomposers drive nutrient cycles and soil formation.

Chemistry: A decomposition reaction is a chemical reaction in which a compound breaks down into two or more substances, often under heat, light, or the influence of a catalyst. Examples include the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.

Mathematics and data analysis: In mathematics, decomposition refers to expressing an object as a sum or product of simpler parts. Examples include prime factorization, eigen-decomposition of a matrix, and singular value decomposition. In time-series analysis, decomposition separates data into components such as trend, seasonality, and residual.

Computing and engineering: In computer science and software engineering, decomposition means breaking a complex problem or system into smaller, more manageable parts or modules, enabling modular design, development, and testing. In signal processing, decomposition techniques separate a signal into basic components, such as frequency bands or basis functions.

Overall, decomposition is a unifying concept across disciplines, describing the process of breaking complex structures into simpler or more fundamental elements.