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corrosion

UK/kəˈɹəʊʒən/US/kəˈɹoʊʒən/
nounB2+Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #12,824 of 15,258mostly written

Corrosion is the slow chemical destruction of a metal surface. Prevent corrosion, corrosion resistance, signs of corrosion.

Rust is corrosion of iron specifically; other metals corrode differently, and aluminium's oxide layer protects it rather than flaking away, which is why aluminium lasts outdoors. Corrosion costs national economies a few per cent of GDP a year, which is a startling figure for something so quiet. Note corrode; and that the Latin means gnawing away.

Thester11 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Definitions of corrosion

  1. 1nouncorrosionThe slow chemical destruction of a metal surface.B2+

    “Salt from the roads causes corrosion on the underside of cars.”

corrosion is a chemical destruction.

Where it comes from

Latin corrosio comes from corrodere, to gnaw away — com plus rodere, to gnaw. Rodent and erode come from the same gnawing.

  1. Latin

    corrōsiōnem

  2. Old French

    corrosion

  3. Middle English

    corrosioun

  4. English, today

    corrosion

Built from

  • corrōsiō · Latin — gnawing away, corroding

From Middle English corrosioun, from Old French corrosion, or its source, Latin corrōsiōnem, accusative singular of corrōsiō (“gnawing away, corroding”), from Latin corrōdō (“gnaw away, corrode”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Materials & Substances, Repair & Damage, Chemistry & Elements

Practise this word

corrosion in the wild

  • Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH), Fe(OH)3), and is typically associated with the corrosion of refined iron.

    Rust

  • Rusting is the common term for corrosion of elemental iron and its alloys such as steel.

    Rust

  • Stainless steel is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion.

    Stainless steel

  • However, some corrosion mechanisms are less visible and less predictable.

    Corrosion

  • Anodizing increases resistance to corrosion and wear, and provides better adhesion for paint primers and glues than bare metal does.

    Anodizing

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.