decay vs gain

decay

noun
  • A deterioration of condition; loss of status or fortune. 

  • The process or result of being gradually decomposed. 

  • The situation, in programming languages such as C, where an array loses its type and dimensions and is reduced to a pointer, for example by passing it to a function. 

verb
  • To undergo bit rot, that is, gradual degradation. 

  • To deteriorate, to get worse, to lose strength or health, to decline in quality. 

  • To undergo optical decay, that is, to relax to a less excited state, usually by emitting a photon or phonon. 

  • Loss of airspeed due to drag. 

  • To undergo software rot, that is, to fail to be updated in a changing environment, so as to eventually become legacy or obsolete. 

  • To change by undergoing fission, by emitting radiation, or by capturing or losing one or more electrons; to undergo radioactive decay. 

  • To cause to rot or deteriorate. 

  • Of an array: to lose its type and dimensions and be reduced to a pointer, for example when passed to a function. 

  • To rot, to go bad. 

  • To undergo prolonged reduction in altitude (above the orbited body). 

gain

noun
  • The thing or things gained. 

  • The factor by which a signal is multiplied. 

  • The act of gaining; acquisition. 

  • A square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam. 

verb
  • To increase. 

  • To reach. 

  • To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate. 

  • To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual. 

  • To put on weight. 

  • To run fast. 

  • To acquire possession of. 

  • To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress. 

adj
  • Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous. 

  • Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap. 

adv
  • Tolerably; fairly. 

  • Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately. 

How often have the words decay and gain occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )