Refine this word faster
Deteriorate
//dɪˈtɪə.ɹɪə.ɹeɪt// verb
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair. transitive
"to deteriorate the mind"
- 2 grow progressively worse wordnet
- 3 To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate. intransitive
"During this fine run through Fife the weather had deteriorated rapidly, and as we passed Wormit and came onto the Tay Bridge heavy rain clouds were piled over the sea."
- 4 become worse or disintegrate wordnet
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Late Latin dēteriorātus, perfect passive participle of Late Latin dēteriorō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), further from Latin dēterior (“worse”). Cognate with French détériorer.
See also for "deteriorate"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: deteriorate