De·com·po·si·tion n.
 1. The act or process of resolving the constituent parts of a compound body or substance into its elementary parts; separation into constituent part; analysis; the decay or dissolution consequent on the removal or alteration of some of the ingredients of a compound; disintegration; as, the decomposition of wood, rocks, etc.
 2. The state of being reduced into original elements.
 3. Repeated composition; a combination of compounds. [Obs.]
 Decomposition of forces. Same as Resolution of forces, under Resolution.
 Decomposition of light, the division of light into the prismatic colors.

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