From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englisherodee‧rode /ɪˈrəʊd $ ɪˈroʊd/ ●○○ AWL (also erode away) verb [intransitive, transitive] 1 SGDESTROYif the weather erodes rock or soil, or if rock or soil erodes, its surface is gradually destroyed The cliffs are being constantly eroded by heavy seas. The rocks have gradually eroded away.2 REDUCEto gradually reduce something such as someone’s power or confidence Our personal freedom is being gradually eroded away. Repeated exam failure had eroded her confidence.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
erode• Purchasing power has been severely eroded.• But as the century proceeded, these rigid differences were to some extent eroded.• If the receipt is distributed to shareholders as dividends then the capital base of the business has been eroded.• Indications the economy may be picking up steam hurt bonds by sparking concern inflation may accelerate, eroding bonds' fixed payments.• Over the years, the value of our savings and investments has been eroded by inflation.• Its stock price eroded from a 52-week high of about 39 in October to a low of nearly 15 Tuesday.• If the river is not controlled, it will erode its banks as well as the surrounding farm land.• High interest rates can gradually erode profit margins.• Caves are formed by water eroding rock.• Is television scaring our kids, engendering violent behavior, skewing their morals and generally eroding the aesthetic standards of Western civilization?• A strong president would further erode the power of the Congress.• Worse, the recent fall in the Nikkei is eroding their capital base.• Houllier had matches in hand, but fixture congestion threatened to erode this advantage.• The hard rains have eroded topsoil in the Midwest.From Longman Business Dictionaryerodee‧rode /ɪˈrəʊdɪˈroʊd/ verb [transitive] if an amount or value is eroded, it is slowly reducedStock prices were eroded by profit-taking and ended down.The real value of the capital was slowly being eroded by inflation. —erosion noun [uncountable]They were striking over the erosion of salaries.→ See Verb tableOrigin erode (1600-1700) Latin erodere “to eat away”, from rodere; → RODENT 