The Clue
Dental damage (5 letter answer)
The Answer
DECAY
Tags
Notes
The answer DECAY is uncommon, appearing about once every 575 puzzles.
Related Clues
Caries
Crumble
Disintegrate
Molder
Rot
Break down
Reason to drill
Tooth nemesis
Tooth problem
Tooth trouble
Fall into ruin
Go downhill
Go bad, as teeth
Cause of radioactivity
Definition
DECAY as a noun:
1. the process of gradually becoming inferior
2. (decay, decline) = a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
3. (decay, decomposition) = the organic phenomenon of rotting
4. an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying; "the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"; "the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair"
5. (decay, radioactive decay, disintegration) = the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
DECAY as a verb:
1. (disintegrate, decay, decompose) = lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current; "the particles disintegrated during the nuclear fission process"
2. (decay, crumble, delapidate) = fall into decay or ruin; "The unoccupied house started to decay"
3. undergo decay or decomposition; "The body started to decay and needed to be cremated"