/ Dictionary / Index D deteriorate: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: de•te•ri•o•rate Pronunciation: (di-tēr'ē-u-rāt"), [key] — -rat•ed, -rat•ing. to make or become worse or inferior in character, quality, value, etc. to disintegrate or wear away. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: deteriorate (Thesaurus) detergent deterioration Related Content Daily Word Quiz: inutiae Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language