Literally, to eat or gnaw away gradually; hence, to wear away, diminish, or disintegrate (a body) by gradually separating small particles from (it), especially by the action of a chemical agent: as, nitric acid corrodes copper: often used figuratively.Synonyms To canker, gnaw, waste.To gnaw; eat or wear away gradually.Figuratively, to become gradually impaired or deteriorated; waste away.To act by or as if by corrosion or canker, or a process of eating or wearing away.