Atrophy

Meaning: To waste away, shrink, or become weaker from lack of use.
Used for muscles, skills, organs, or even relationships and ideas.

Pronounced: _AT-ruh-fee_ as a noun, _AT-ruh-fy_ as a verb
From Greek _a-_ = "without" + _trophe_ = "nourishment"

Sentence:
If you don’t practice guitar, your skills will atrophy and you’ll have to start over.

Other examples:
- Astronauts’ muscles atrophy in zero gravity without regular exercise.
- The abandoned town suffered from economic *atrophy* after the factory closed.
- Use it or lose it — that’s how memory atrophies.

Quick way to remember:
Atrophy = Away + trophy. No care = no trophy. It fades without use.