CORRODE

corrode, rust

(verb) become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid; “The metal corroded”; “The pipes rusted”

corrode, eat, rust

(verb) cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid; “The acid corroded the metal”; “The steady dripping of water rusted the metal stopper in the sink”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

corrode (third-person singular simple present corrodes, present participle corroding, simple past and past participle corroded)

(transitive) To eat away bit by bit; to wear away or diminish by gradually separating or destroying small particles of, as by action of a strong acid or a caustic alkali.

(transitive) To consume; to wear away; to prey upon; to impair.

(intransitive) To have corrosive action; to be subject to corrosion.

Synonyms

• (to eat away by degrees): canker, gnaw, rust, waste, wear

Anagrams

• Cordero

Source: Wiktionary

Cor*rode" (kr-rd") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corroded; p. pr. & vb. n. Corroding.] Etym: [L. corrodere, -rosum; cor + rodere to gnaw: cf. F. corroder. See Rodent.]

1. To eat away by degrees; to wear away or diminish by gradually separating or destroying small particles of, as by action of a strong acid or a caustic alkali. Aqua fortis corroding copper . . . is wont to reduce it to a green- blue solution. Boyle.

2. To consume; to wear away; to prey upon; to impair.

Cor*rode", v. i.

Definition: To have corrosive action; to be subject to corrosion. Corroding lead, lead sufficiently pure to be used in making white lead by a process of corroding.

Syn.

– To canker; gnaw; rust; waste; wear away.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition