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CARD 1 OF 2

deteriorate

verb

Reveal meaning and examples

To decline gradually in condition, quality, or effectiveness.

Without regular maintenance, even a sturdy footbridge can deteriorate.

Dictionary practice example.

When a local camera club became defunct, its old meeting room remained full of albums and display cases. Without regular upkeep, several cases began to deteriorate, their loose joints making them less stable each season.

From Giving the Archive a Future.

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