corrode

verb

cor·​rode kə-ˈrōd 

corroded; corroding

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

corrodible

kə-ˈrō-də-bəl 

adjective

Did you know?

Corrode comes from Latin corrodere ("to gnaw to pieces"), a combination of the prefix "cor-" (used here as an intensifier with the meaning of "completely") and the verb "rodere" ("to gnaw"). At one time, "corrode" was used to literally indicate the action of gnawing away, as in "woodworms corroded the wood." But it is the more figurative senses from the action of gnawing or eating away that have persisted, as in "salt water corroded the iron" or "graphic content on television and the Internet is corroding the moral fabric of society."

Synonyms

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

Examples of corrode in a Sentence

Rainwater may corrode the steel containers.

Over time, the pipes become corroded and need to be replaced.

After a few weeks in the ocean, the boat began to corrode.

Years of lies and secrets had corroded their relationship.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the capture of banks corrodes markets in more insidious ways, as well. —Elizabeth David-Barrett, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2025

Gossip acts as an acid, corroding the workplace foundation silently and swiftly. —Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

The dispute, which has deeply corroded the relationship between Mbappe and the club, appears destined to be settled by an employment tribunal. —Tom Williams, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

Over time, some of the artifacts had corroded together to form a tangled mass, which researchers had to carefully extract. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corroden, borrowed from Latin corrōdere "to gnaw, chew up," from cor-, variant before r of com- com- + rōdere "to gnaw, nibble, eat away" — more at rodent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for corrode

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• crossroad
• decode

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Kids Definition

corrode

verb

cor·​rode kə-ˈrōd 

corroded; corroding

: to eat or be eaten away by degrees as if by gnawing

a bridge corroded by rust

Medical Definition

corrode

verb

cor·​rode kə-ˈrōd 

corroded; corroding

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