eroding

e·rode  (-rd)

v. e·rod·ed, e·rod·ing, e·rodes

v.tr.

1. To wear (something) away by or as if by abrasion: Waves eroded the shore.

2. To eat into; corrode.

3. To make or form by wearing away: The river eroded a deep valley.

4. To cause to diminish or deteriorate as if by eating into or wearing away: "Long enduring peace often erodes popular resolution" C.L. Sulzberger.

v.intr.

To become worn or eaten away: The cliffs have eroded over the centuries. Public confidence in the administration eroded.

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[Latin rdere, to gnaw off, eat away : -, ex-, ex- + rdere, to gnaw; see rd- in Indo-European roots.]

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e·rodi·bili·ty n.

e·rodi·ble adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

eroding - (geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it) eating away, erosion, wearing, wearing away geology - a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks chatter mark - marks on a glaciated rock caused by the movement of a glacier ablation - the erosive process that reduces the size of glaciers attrition, corrasion, detrition, abrasion - erosion by friction beach erosion - the erosion of beaches geologic process, geological process - (geology) a natural process whereby geological features are modified deflation - (geology) the erosion of soil as a consequence of sand and dust and loose rocks being removed by the wind; "a constant deflation of the desert landscape" planation - the process of erosion whereby a level surface is produced soil erosion - the washing away of soil by the flow of water