First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
corrode
verb cor·rode \kə-ˈrōd\
: to slowly break apart and destroy (metal, an object, etc.) through a chemical process
: to gradually destroy or weaken (something)
cor·rod·edcor·rod·ing
Full 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
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Origin of CORRODE
Middle English, from Latin corrodere to gnaw to pieces, from com- + rodere to gnaw — more at rodent
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
CORRODE Defined for Kids
corrode
verb cor·rode \kə-ˈrōd\
cor·rod·edcor·rod·ing
Definition of CORRODE for Kids
1
: to wear away little by little (as by rust or acid)
2
: to gradually destroy or weaken <corroding traditions>
Medical Dictionary
corrode
verb cor·rode \kə-ˈrōd\
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
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