Corrosion
/kəˈroʊ.ʒən/noun
The gradual destruction or wearing away of metal, stone, or other materials by chemical action.
Did you know?Corrosion comes from Latin corrodere, literally “to gnaw away,” from com- (“together, completely”) + rodere (“to gnaw”), the same brutal root behind words for gnawing, rasping, and being worn down.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
corrodere
“to gnaw away, eat into, wear down”
Late Latin
Latin
corrosio
“a gnawing away; eating into”
Old French
Old French
corrosion
“a wearing away, gnawing destruction”
14th Century
English
corrosioun
“a gradual eating away or wasting”
Modern English
English
corrosion
“the chemical wearing away of a substance”