To gradually destroy or wear away a material, usually a metal, through a chemical reaction like oxidation or exposure to acid.
Third person singular present of 'corrode,' from Latin 'corrodere' (com- 'thoroughly' + rodere 'to gnaw'). The word has been used in English since the 16th century in both literal and figurative senses.
When iron corrodes into rust, it's actually combining with oxygen to create an entirely new material—the metal doesn't disappear, it transforms into iron oxide, which is why rust is heavier than the original metal!
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