decomposer
noun
de·com·pos·er
ˌdē-kəm-ˈpō-zər 
: any of various organisms (such as many bacteria and fungi) that return constituents of organic substances to ecological cycles by feeding on and breaking down dead protoplasm compare consumer, producer sense 4
Examples of decomposer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet beetles are essential decomposers, breaking down plant material and recycling nutrients back into the soil.
—
Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Oct. 2024
The oxygen that animals and decomposers would have used to break down those absentee plants remains in the atmosphere, having escaped the usual cycle.
—Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024
The fungus is a saprotrophic decomposer, a mushroom that typically gets its nutrients from dead or decaying organic matter — but a 2023 study found the mushroom could evolve to thrive on living plants as well.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024
That means the genus, which contains hundreds of species, can pull an ecological 180, switching from decomposer to parasite or mutualist.
—Jude Coleman, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024
Furthermore, soil already hosts an exceptionally diverse microbial community full of decomposers that are well adapted to that environment and would presumably outcompete any newcomers.
—Jennifer Debruyn, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2023
Adults can follow the ant trail and travel through displays, literature and boards that explain how composting produces nutrients, show bugs as pollinators, predators, decomposers and food as well as show or confirm how bugs are destructive.
—Joan Rusek, cleveland, 26 Aug. 2023
Logs also host a different kind of fungi and bacteria, called decomposers.
—Camille Stevens-Rumann, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2023
Directed by groundbreaking time-lapse cinematographer Louie Schwartzberg, Fantastic Fungi utilizes this eye-popping art form (alongside CGI animation and interviews with mycologists) to cover the colorfully strange world of our planet’s greatest decomposer.
—Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023
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Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Oct. 2024
The oxygen that animals and decomposers would have used to break down those absentee plants remains in the atmosphere, having escaped the usual cycle.
—Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024
The fungus is a saprotrophic decomposer, a mushroom that typically gets its nutrients from dead or decaying organic matter — but a 2023 study found the mushroom could evolve to thrive on living plants as well.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024
That means the genus, which contains hundreds of species, can pull an ecological 180, switching from decomposer to parasite or mutualist.
—Jude Coleman, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024
Furthermore, soil already hosts an exceptionally diverse microbial community full of decomposers that are well adapted to that environment and would presumably outcompete any newcomers.
—Jennifer Debruyn, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2023
Adults can follow the ant trail and travel through displays, literature and boards that explain how composting produces nutrients, show bugs as pollinators, predators, decomposers and food as well as show or confirm how bugs are destructive.
—Joan Rusek, cleveland, 26 Aug. 2023
Logs also host a different kind of fungi and bacteria, called decomposers.
—Camille Stevens-Rumann, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2023
Directed by groundbreaking time-lapse cinematographer Louie Schwartzberg, Fantastic Fungi utilizes this eye-popping art form (alongside CGI animation and interviews with mycologists) to cover the colorfully strange world of our planet’s greatest decomposer.
—Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near decomposer
Cite this Entry
“Decomposer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decomposer. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decomposer
noun
de·com·pos·er
ˌdē-kəm-ˈpō-zər
: an organism (as a bacterium or a fungus) that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter
Medical Definition
decomposer
noun
de·com·pos·er
ˌdē-kəm-ˈpō-zər
: any of various organisms (as many bacteria and fungi) that return constituents of organic substances to ecological cycles by feeding on and breaking down dead protoplasm
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