biodegrade
/ˌbaɪ.əʊ.dɪˈɡreɪd/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To break down naturally by the action of living things, especially bacteria. It is used for materials that can return to nature over time.
- This plastic does not biodegrade quickly.
- The bag will biodegrade in the soil.
- Some food waste biodegrades fast.
Adinary Nuance
Biodegrade is more specific than decompose. It means breaking down by living things, not just breaking apart in any way. It is also different from decay, which is broader and often used for plants, food, or buildings. Writers choose biodegrade when talking about waste, packaging, and environmental safety.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- phân hủy sinh học
- Spanish
- biodegradar
- Chinese
- 生物降解
- Japanese
- 生分解する
- Korean
- 생분해되다
Etymology
Biodegrade comes from bio-, meaning “life,” and degrade, from Latin degradare. It became common in modern environmental English in the 20th century.
Common phrases
biodegradable plasticbiodegrade naturallytake years to biodegradebiodegrade in soil
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is biodegrade a common word in academic writing
- Yes. It is common in science, environment, and IELTS-style writing.
- What is the difference between biodegrade and decompose
- Biodegrade means living things break it down. Decompose is broader and can mean simply rotting or breaking apart.
- Can people biodegrade
- No. People and animals decompose after death, but we do not usually say biodegrade.
- Is biodegradable the same as eco-friendly
- Not exactly. Biodegradable means a material can break down naturally.