1. (v. t.) To break into small pieces; to cause to fall in pieces.

2. (v. i.) To fall into small pieces; to break or part into small fragments; hence, to fall to decay or ruin; to become disintegrated; to perish.

abate ablate abrade atomize bate be eaten away beat bite the dust bray break break down break up brecciate canker cave in collapse come apart come to dust come unstuck comminute conk out consume consume away contriturate corrode corrupt crack up crumb crumble into dust crumble to dust crush decay decline decompose decrease deliquesce die away diminish disintegrate disjoin disorganize dissolve dive droop drop drop off dwindle ebb effloresce erode fade fail faint fall fall away fall into decay fall off fall to dust fall to pieces fester fission fizzle out flag flour fragment gangrene give out give way go bad go downhill go soft go to pieces grain granulate granulize grate grind grind to powder hit the skids languish lessen let up levigate mash melt away mildew mill mold molder mortify mush necrose peg out pestle peter out pine plummet plunge poop out pound powder pulverize putrefy putresce rankle reduce to powder rot run low sag scrunch shard shiver shred shrink sink smash sphacelate split spoil squash subside suppurate tail off taint topple triturate tumble turn wane waste waste away weaken wear wear away wear thin wilt yield