corrosion

/kəˈroʊʒən/

/kəˈrʌʊʒɪn/

Other forms: corrosions

Corrosion is the process by which something deteriorates because of oxidation, a chemical action that creates oxides that flake away from the base.

When you see a rusty, shoddy looking car, corrosion is the culprit. Although the word is most often associated with the physical breakdown of a metal through rusting, the erosion of rock by wind and water is a form of corrosion. The word can also be applied to other situations, like the corrosion of a once-strong friendship. There could be corrosion of relations between two countries. Whenever something's being worn down or eaten away, you can call it corrosion.

Definitions of corrosion

1. noun

   erosion by chemical action
   synonyms: corroding, erosion

   types:

   indentation, pitting, roughness

   the formation of small pits in a surface as a consequence of corrosion

   rust, rusting

   the formation of reddish-brown ferric oxides on iron by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water

   type of:

   chemical action, chemical change, chemical process

   (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved
2. noun

   a state of deterioration in metals caused by oxidation or chemical action
   type of:

   deterioration, impairment

   a symptom of reduced quality or strength