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corrosive

[kuh-roh-siv]
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adjective
  1. having the quality of corroding or eating away; erosive.
  2. harmful or destructive; deleterious: the corrosive effect of poverty on their marriage.
  3. sharply sarcastic; caustic: corrosive comments on the speaker's integrity.
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noun
  1. something corrosive, as an acid or drug.
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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
British Dictionary definitions for corrosivity

corrosive

adjective
  1. (esp of acids or alkalis) capable of destroying solid materials
  2. tending to eat away or consume
  3. cutting; sarcastica corrosive remark
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noun
  1. a corrosive substance, such as a strong acid or alkali
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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).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
corrosivity in Medicine

corrosive

(kə-rō′sĭv)
adj.
  1. Causing or tending to cause the gradual destruction of a substance by chemical action.
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n.
  1. A substance having the capability or tendency to cause slow destruction.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.