v. To form vapour bubbles in a flowing liquid in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls below its vapour pressure.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
To form holes or cavities within an agitated liquid; react upon the water with *cavitation (which see): said of a screw propeller.
Word Usage
"People have been struggling for years to try and design a very fast rotating boat propeller that doesn't cavitate and literally wear away the metal and put holes in it, just like these pictures show."