CORROSIVE


Meaning of CORROSIVE in English

/ 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.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.