corrode

[ kuh-rohd ]

verb (used with object)

, cor·rod·ed, cor·rod·ing.

1. to eat or wear away gradually as if by gnawing, especially by chemical action.
2. to impair; deteriorate:

   Jealousy corroded his character.

verb (used without object)

, cor·rod·ed, cor·rod·ing.

1. to become corroded.

corrode

/ kəˈrəʊd /

verb

1. to eat away or be eaten away, esp by chemical action as in the oxidation or rusting of a metal
2. tr to destroy gradually; consume

   his jealousy corroded his happiness

Derived Forms

• corˈroder, noun
• corˌrodiˈbility, noun
• corˈrodible, adjective
• corˈrodant, noun

Other Words From

• cor·rodent noun
• cor·roder noun
• cor·rodi·ble adjective
• cor·rodi·bili·ty noun
• noncor·rodi·ble adjective
• noncor·roding adjective noun
• uncor·roded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of corrode¹

1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin corrōdere to gnaw to pieces, equivalent to cor- cor- + rōdere to gnaw; akin to rodent

Word History and Origins

Origin of corrode¹

C14: from Latin corrōdere to gnaw to pieces, from rōdere to gnaw; see rodent , rat

Example Sentences

I think that from the time he was a boy, and I think that over time, those secrets start to corrode a person.

From Salon

The show’s look at how fear mongering can corrode a democratic system is also resonating outside of the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Sowing hopelessness and fear is the fastest way to corrode trust.

From Slate

Most tanks were made of steel in the mid-1980s and likely to corrode over time.

From Seattle Times

And since there is so little metal in the super tiny vision electrode, it cannot 'afford' to corrode at all, otherwise it would stop working.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• deteriorate
• erode
• impair
• rot
• rust