corrode

IPA/kəˈrəʊd/
KK[kɚˈod]IPA/kəˈrəʊd/

corrode — verb

  • corrodepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • corrodeshe / she / it
  • corrodedpast simple
  • corroding-ing form

1. to wear away metal, stone, or another hard material, or to be worn away, through

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1
Definition

to wear away metal, stone, or another hard material, or to be worn away, through water, salt, acid, or other chemical action over time.

Example

Salt water corroded the battery wires in the fishing boat.

corrode + metal object after contact with salt water

After years underground, the iron pipe had badly corroded.

intransitive: metal corrodes without an object

Common collocations
  • corrode metal
  • corrode a pipe
  • corrode battery wires
  • badly corroded
  • corroded by salt water
Synonyms
  • rust

    narrower, mainly for iron or steel forming a reddish-brown damaged layer

  • erode

    broader and often used for soil, rock, or surfaces worn away by movement or weather

  • eat away

    more everyday phrasing for gradual damage, often less technical than corrode

Antonyms
  • protect

    to keep a material safe from damage

  • seal

    to cover a surface so water or air cannot get in

  • preserve

    to keep something in good condition and stop decay or damage

Grammar Patterns

corrode + metal/material

metal/material corrode

be corroded by water/salt/acid

Usage Note

Often used for metal, stone, pipes, wires, and similar materials exposed to water, salt, acid, or damp air. This is the physical sense; sense 2 is the figurative use for weakening trust, confidence, or authority.

Common Mistakes

The towel corroded in the rain.
The metal fence corroded in the rain.
'corrode' is used for materials such as metal or stone, not for cloth.
The sun corroded the poster on the wall.
The sun faded the poster on the wall.
sunlight can fade paper or color, but 'corrode' suggests chemical damage to a material.

2. to make trust, confidence, authority, or another abstract thing grow steadily we

2.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to make trust, confidence, authority, or another abstract thing grow steadily weaker over time.

Example

Months of secrecy corroded trust between the two research teams.

collocation: corrode trust between people or groups

The mayor's false promises corroded public confidence before the vote.

corrode + public confidence / faith

Common collocations
  • corrode trust
  • corrode confidence
  • corrode respect
  • corrode faith
  • corrode authority
Synonyms
  • undermine

    close in meaning and common for slowly weakening trust, confidence, or authority

  • erode

    emphasizes gradual wearing away over time, often in abstract contexts

  • weaken

    broader and more neutral, without the image of damage spreading inward

Antonyms
  • strengthen

    to make trust, confidence, or authority stronger

  • restore

    to bring back something that has been damaged or lost

  • rebuild

    to slowly create trust or confidence again after harm

Grammar Patterns

corrode + trust/confidence/respect

corrode + institution/relationship

be corroded by lies/fear/bribery

Usage Note

Usually used in formal contexts where something valuable but intangible is damaged little by little. The object is commonly trust, confidence, respect, faith, authority, or a relationship. Sense 1 is used for physical materials.

Common Mistakes

The scandal corroded the bridge.
The scandal corroded public trust.
this figurative sense takes abstract things such as trust or confidence, not physical objects.
The rumours rusted her confidence.
The rumours corroded her confidence.
'rust' is usually for literal damage to metal, while 'corrode' can describe gradual figurative damage.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe gradual damage, but they belong to different patterns. Corrode is the broad word for metal or another material being damaged by chemical action, and it can also extend to abstract things such as trust or authority. Rust is narrower and is mainly used when iron or steel develops a reddish-brown damaged layer. Erode often describes soil, rock, or an abstract quality being worn away by water, pressure, or repeated force, without the strong chemical focus of corrode. Undermine is mainly figurative and stresses hidden or gradual weakening of confidence, trust, or authority rather than physical damage to a material. You can say salt water corroded the lock, the river eroded the bank, and rumours undermined the principal's authority.

corrode ↗rust ↗erode ↗undermine ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • corrode over time
  • corrode from the inside
  • corrode public trust

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinMiddle FrenchEnglish

From Latin corrodere, meaning 'to gnaw away completely', built from a prefix meaning 'together' or 'completely' and a verb meaning 'gnaw'. The image of something being eaten away helps explain both the physical and figurative uses in English.