Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "biodegrade" ita ce rushewa da lalacewa ta hanyar dabi'a ta hanyar kwayoyin halitta, kamar kwayoyin cuta ko fungi. Ma'ana, yana nufin ikon wani abu da za a rugujewa da haɗa shi cikin yanayin halitta ta hanyar ƙananan ƙwayoyin cuta. Wannan tsari yawanci yana haifar da samuwar sinadarai masu sauƙi, marasa lahani, kamar ruwa, carbon dioxide, da biomass, waɗanda za'a iya sake yin fa'ida a cikin yanayin halitta ba tare da haifar da gurɓata ko cutar da halittu masu rai ba. Halittar halittu wani muhimmin abu ne na abubuwa da yawa, musamman waɗanda ake amfani da su a cikin marufi, noma, da sarrafa sharar gida, saboda yana iya taimakawa rage sharar gida, adana albarkatu, da rage tasirin muhalli.