/ kəˈrəʊsɪv; NAmE -ˈroʊ-/ adjective
1.
tending to destroy sth slowly by chemical action :
the corrosive effects of salt water
corrosive acid
2.
( formal ) tending to damage sth gradually :
Unemployment is having a corrosive effect on our economy.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French corosif , -ive , from medieval Latin corrosivus , from Latin corros- gnawed through, from the verb corrodere , from cor- (expressing intensive force) + rodere gnaw.