corrosive

[kuh-roh-siv]

See more synonyms for corrosive on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having the quality of corroding or eating away; erosive.
harmful or destructive; deleterious: the corrosive effect of poverty on their marriage.
sharply sarcastic; caustic: corrosive comments on the speaker's integrity.

noun

something corrosive, as an acid or drug.

Origin of corrosive

1350–1400; late Middle English (< Middle French) < Medieval Latin corrōsīvus, equivalent to Latin corrōs(us) (see corrosion) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English corosif < Middle French < Latin as above

Related formscor·ro·sive·ly, adverbcor·ro·sive·ness, cor·ro·siv·i·ty

[kawr-oh-siv-i-tee, kor-] /ˌkɔr oʊˈsɪv ɪ ti, ˌkɒr-/, nounnon·cor·ro·sive, adjectivenon·cor·ro·sive·ly, adverbnon·cor·ro·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for corrosivity

acrimony, causticity, corrosive, mordacity, mordancy, trenchancy, corrosivity

British Dictionary definitions for corrosivity

corrosive

adjective

(esp of acids or alkalis) capable of destroying solid materials
tending to eat away or consume
cutting; sarcastica corrosive remark

noun

a corrosive substance, such as a strong acid or alkali

Derived Formscorrosively, adverbcorrosiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for corrosivity

corrosive

adj.

late 14c., from Old French corrosif (13c.), from corroder (see corrode).

corrosivity in Medicine

corrosive

[kə-rō′sĭv]

adj.

Causing or tending to cause the gradual destruction of a substance by chemical action.

A substance having the capability or tendency to cause slow destruction.