corrode
corrode Lexical Profile
corrode Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To destroy, damage, or wear away gradually by chemical action (especially of metal or stone).
"Saltwater and humid sea air will quickly corrode unprotected iron pipes."
To weaken, impair, or destroy gradually over time (of a relationship, institution, or moral quality).
"Years of unchecked misinformation began to corrode public trust in civic institutions."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Corrode' refers specifically to gradual destruction by chemical or electrochemical action (such as acid or rust on metal), whereas 'erode' refers to physical wearing away by wind, water, or friction.
• Rhymes for corrode
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French corroder or directly from Latin corrodere ('to gnaw to pieces'), formed from the intensive prefix com- and rodere ('to gnaw'), which also gave English 'rodent' and 'erode'.