Category:Corrode

Cor*rode" (kr-rd") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corroded; p. pr. & vb. n. Corroding.] Etym: [L. corrodere, -rosum; cor + rodere to gnaw: cf. F. corroder. See Rodent.]

1. To eat away by degrees; to wear away or diminish by gradually separating or destroying small particles of, as by action of a strong acid or a caustic alkali. Aqua fortis corroding copper. . . is wont to reduce it to a green- blue solution. Boyle.

2. To consume; to wear away; to prey upon; to impair.

corrode Cor*rode", v. i.

Defn: To have corrosive action; to be subject to corrosion. Corroding lead, lead sufficiently pure to be used in making white lead by a process of corroding.

Syn. -- To canker; gnaw; rust; waste; wear away.