transitive. To gnaw at; to corrode; to nibble.

transitive. To bite (something) persistently so as to injure it or remove portions of it; to wear away by a continued biting or nibbling.

To gnaw; to consume, torture or wear away by gnawing. Now only of small animals: = eat, v. 9. Also intransitive (const. on, into).

transitive. To eat into; to eat or gnaw away. Obsolete in literal sense.

transferred. Of slow and gradual action, as of frost, rust, cancerous or similar disease, chemical corrosives, the waves, etc. Const. into (the…

to fret or gnaw away.