CORROSIVE
caustic, corrosive, erosive, vitriolic, mordant
(adjective) of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
corrosive
(adjective) spitefully sarcastic; “corrosive cristism”
corrosive
(noun) a substance having the tendency to cause corrosion (such a strong acids or alkali)
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
corrosive (comparative more corrosive, superlative most corrosive)
Eating away; having the power of gradually wearing, hanging, or destroying the texture or substance of a body; as the corrosive action of an acid.
Having the quality of fretting or vexing.
destroying or undermining something gradually.
Noun
corrosive (plural corrosives)
That which has the quality of eating or wearing away gradually.
Any solid, liquid or gas capable of irreparably harming living tissues or damaging material on contact.
Source: Wiktionary
Cor*ro"sive (kr-r"sv), a. Etym: [Cf. F. corrosif.]
1. Eating away; having the power of gradually wearing, changing, or
destroying the texture or substance of a body; as, the corrosive
action of an acid. "Corrosive liquors." Grew. "Corrosive
famine."Thomson.
2. Having the quality of fretting or vexing.
Care is no cure, but corrosive. Shak.
Corrosive sublimate (Chem.), mercuric chloride, HgCl2; so called
because obtained by sublimation, and because of its harsh irritating
action on the body tissue. Usually it is in the form of a heavy,
transparent, crystalline substance, easily soluble, and of an acrid,
burning taste. It is a virulent poison, a powerful antiseptic, and an
exellent antisyphilitic; called also mercuric bichloride. It is to be
carefully distinguished from calomel, the mild chloride of mercury.
Cor*ro"sive, n.
1. That which has the quality of eating or wearing away gradually.
[Corrosives] act either directly, by chemically destroying the part,
or indirectly by causing inflammation and gangrene. Dunglison.
2. That which has the power of fretting or irritating.
Such speeches . . . are grievous corrosives. Hooker.
– Cor*ro"sive*ly, adv.
– Cor*ro"sive*ness, n.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition