- 1[transitive, intransitive] to gradually destroy the surface of something through the action of wind, rain, etc.; to be gradually destroyed in this way synonym wear away erode something (away) The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. erode (away) The rocks have eroded away over time. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbbadly, seriously, severely, … verb + erodebegin to, start to, continue to, … See full entry
- 2[transitive, intransitive] erode (something) to gradually destroy something or make it weaker over a period of time; to be destroyed or made weaker in this way Her confidence has been slowly eroded by repeated failures. Mortgage payments have been eroded (= decreased in value) by inflation. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbbadly, seriously, severely, … verb + erodebegin to, start to, continue to, … See full entry Word Originearly 17th cent.: from French éroder or Latin erodere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out, away’ + rodere ‘gnaw’.Extra examples The distinction between social classes is slowly being eroded. The experience had seriously eroded his confidence in himself. The pressure towards uniformity that constantly threatens to erode local traditions. The river bank had been steadily eroded over the years. Walkers should stick to obvious paths, even if they are badly eroded. Without adequate protection from plants, the river banks began to erode. the commercial pressures that threaten to erode local traditions Price rises have eroded profit margins. We live in a world whose moral base has been eroded.
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BrE BrE//ɪˈrəʊd//; NAmE NAmE//ɪˈroʊd//
[often passive]Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they erode BrE BrE//ɪˈrəʊd//; NAmE NAmE//ɪˈroʊd//
he / she / it erodes BrE BrE//ɪˈrəʊdz//; NAmE NAmE//ɪˈroʊdz//
past simple eroded BrE BrE//ɪˈrəʊdɪd//; NAmE NAmE//ɪˈroʊdɪd//
past participle eroded BrE BrE//ɪˈrəʊdɪd//; NAmE NAmE//ɪˈroʊdɪd//
-ing form eroding BrE BrE//ɪˈrəʊdɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ɪˈroʊdɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: erode
