corrode

cor·rode

verb \kə-ˈrōd\

cor·rod·edcor·rod·ing

Definition of CORRODE

transitive verb

1

: to eat away by degrees as if by gnawing; especially : to wear away gradually usually by chemical action <the metal was corroded beyond repair>

2

: to weaken or destroy gradually : undermine <manners and miserliness that corrode the human spirit — Bernard De Voto>

intransitive verb

: to undergo corrosion

— cor·rod·ible \-ˈrō-də-bəl\ adjective

Examples of CORRODE

1. Rainwater may corrode the steel containers.
2. Over time, the pipes become corroded and need to be replaced.
3. After a few weeks in the ocean, the boat began to corrode.
4. Years of lies and secrets had corroded their relationship.

Origin of CORRODE

Middle English, from Latin corrodere to gnaw to pieces, from com- + rodere to gnaw — more at rodent

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CORRODE

Synonyms

bite (at), eat, erode, fret, gnaw, nibble

Related Words

break down, break up, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve; decimate, destroy, devastate, ruin, waste, wreck

Near Antonyms

freshen, recreate, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, renew, restore, revitalize, revive

Rhymes with CORRODE

abode, anode, bar code, boatload, busload, byroad, carload, cartload, caseload, cathode, church mode, commode, crossroad, dead load, decode, diode, displode, download, dress code, dynode, embowed, encode, epode, erode, explode, forebode, freeload, front-load, geode, high road, implode, inroad, live load, lymph node, no-load, off-load, outmode, payload, planeload, postcode, post road, railroad, rhapsode, sarod, shipload, side road, Silk Road, skid road, source code, spring-load, square-toed, tetrode, threnode, trainload, triode, truckload, unload, upload, zip code

cor·rode

verb \kə-ˈrōd\   (Medical Dictionary)

cor·rod·edcor·rod·ing

Medical Definition of CORRODE

transitive verb

: to eat away by degrees as if by gnawing; especially : to wear away gradually usually by chemical action

intransitive verb

: to undergo corrosion