corrosion
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the process where metal is slowly destroyed by water, air, or chemicals.
the deterioration of a material, usually a metal, due to a chemical reaction with its environment, such as oxidation.
Simple“The salt in the sea air caused fast corrosion on the old bridge.”
In context“Engineers must apply specialized coatings to the hull to prevent saltwater corrosion from compromising the ship's structural integrity.”
UsageOften uncountable when referring to the process, but countable when referring to specific damaged areas.
- 02 C1 Advanced
the physical substance, like rust, that forms on a surface during this process.
the physical product or residue resulting from a corrosive process.
Simple“He scraped the green corrosion off the old copper pipes.”
In context“The technician identified thick layers of corrosion inside the valve, which had eventually caused the entire cooling system to fail.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
the slow destruction or weakening of something like a relationship, a system, or trust.
the gradual undermining, wearing away, or destruction of an abstract entity or social structure.
Simple“The corrosion of trust between the two leaders made a deal impossible.”
In context“Political analysts warned that the persistent spread of misinformation was leading to a slow corrosion of democratic values across the region.”
SynonymsAntonyms
“As a group, these materials are strong, biocompatible, and resistant to both heat and corrosion.”
“Corrosion is an economic and safety issue for outdoor metal products and structures.”
From Middle English corrosioun, from Old French corrosion, or its source, Late Latin corrōsiōnem, accusative singular of corrōsiō (“gnawing away, corroding”), from Latin corrōdō (“gnaw away, corrode”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.