Literally, eating or gnawing; hence, destroying as if by gnawing away; wearing away or disintegrating by separating small parts or particles, especially under chemical action, as of acids: often used figuratively of immaterial agents, as care, time, etc., absolutely or with of.n. Anything that corrodes, especially a chemical agent, as an acid; anything that wears away or disintegrates; figuratively, anything that has an analogous influence upon the mind or feelings.To corrode.To act by corrosion.