erodee‧rode /ɪˈrəʊd $ ɪˈroʊd/ ●○○ AWL (also erode away) verb [intransitive, transitive] 
Word Origin Examples
The cliffs are being constantly eroded by heavy seas. The rocks have gradually eroded away.2to gradually reduce something such as someone’s power or confidence: Our personal freedom is being gradually eroded away. Repeated exam failure had eroded her confidence.
Word OriginWORD ORIGINerode
Verb TableOrigin:
1600-1700 Latin erodere ‘to eat away’, from rodere; ➔ RODENTVERB TABLE
erode
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | it | erodes |
| Past | it | eroded |
| Present perfect | it | has eroded |
| Past perfect | it | had eroded |
| Future | it | will erode |
| Future perfect | it | will have eroded |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | it | is eroding |
| Past | it | was eroding |
| Present perfect | it | has been eroding |
| Past perfect | it | had been eroding |
| Future | it | will be eroding |
| Future perfect | it | will have been eroding |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- A strong president would further erode the power of the Congress.
- Caves are formed by water eroding rock.
- High interest rates can gradually erode profit margins.
- If the river is not controlled, it will erode its banks as well as the surrounding farm land.
- Over the years, the value of our savings and investments has been eroded by inflation.
- The hard rains have eroded topsoil in the Midwest.
- But as the century proceeded, these rigid differences were to some extent eroded.
- Houllier had matches in hand, but fixture congestion threatened to erode this advantage.
- If the receipt is distributed to shareholders as dividends then the capital base of the business has been eroded.
- Indications the economy may be picking up steam hurt bonds by sparking concern inflation may accelerate, eroding bonds' fixed payments.
- Is television scaring our kids, engendering violent behavior, skewing their morals and generally eroding the aesthetic standards of Western civilization?
- Its stock price eroded from a 52-week high of about 39 in October to a low of nearly 15 Tuesday.
- Purchasing power has been severely eroded.
- Worse, the recent fall in the Nikkei is eroding their capital base.
Longman Language Activatorwhen weather/water/chemicals etc slowly damage something► wear away
Collocations if the wind, rain, sea etc wears something away , it very gradually destroys its surface until there is nothing left: wear away something: · The action of the sea is constantly wearing away the cliff face.wear something away: · Environmentalists are concerned that rock climbers are wearing the crags away in some places.get worn away: · The cathedral steps were getting worn away by the feet of thousands of visitors.
► erode if water, wind, air etc erodes rock, land, soil etc, it gradually damages it over a long time by removing little pieces of it: · Caves are formed by water eroding rock.· If the river is not controlled, it will erode its banks as well as the surrounding farmland.
► corrode if a chemical corrodes something metal, it damages it and makes it gradually disappear or become weaker: · Salt corrodes metal.· If the batteries leak, they can corrode the case of your flashlight.· The pipework was badly corroded in places.
► rust/rust away if something made of iron rusts , it is gradually damaged by a chemical reaction with water and turns red-brown in colour: · The iron crosses that marked the graves had rusted badly over the years.· The underside of the car had virtually rusted away.
to reduce something gradually► erode to gradually reduce the amount or value of something, especially money, wages, or profits over a period of time: · Over the years, the value of our savings and investments has been eroded by inflation.gradually/steadily erode: · High interest rates can gradually erode profit margins.
► eat into if costs, rising prices, etc eat into the amount of money you have, they reduce its value: · Rising rents and travel expenses simply eat into any pay rise that nurses might get.· Theft from offices and factories eats into company profits.
► deplete to reduce the amount of something to a level that is too low: · Over the last few years, rainforests have been steadily depleted.· He knew that the area's rich plant life had been severely depleted by the huge herds of cows grazing the land.· CFC is just one chemical that depletes the ozone layer.
► chip away at to gradually reduce the strength of something by repeated small amounts: · High interest rates can chip away at your profits.· The group continues to campaign for the rights of disabled people, chipping away at old prejudices.
► whittle away to reduce something by small amounts over a period of time, so that the final effect is very serious: whittle away at: · Congress is whittling away at our civil liberties.whittle away something: · Inflation has been whittling away the value of state pensions for the last fifteen years.whittle something away: · Lawmakers have gradually whittled the program's funding away over the last few years.
WORD SETS► Geographyabyss, nounalluvial, adjectivealluvium, nounalpine, adjectiveAmerican, adjectiveAntarctica, anticyclone, nounarchipelago, nounArctic, adjectivearid, adjectiveAsia, atlas, nounatoll, nounAustralasia, Australasian, adjectiveAustralia, avalanche, nounaxis, nounbank, nounbarometer, nounbarrier reef, nounbasin, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbearing, nounbed, nounbight, nounbluff, nounborder, nounborder, verbborderland, nounborderline, nounborough, nounbox canyon, nounBritish, adjectivebutte, nouncanyon, nouncape, nouncapital, nouncardinal point, nounCaribbean, adjectivecartography, nouncay, nounchain, nounchaparral, nounchart, nounchasm, nounchimney, nounChinese, adjectivecirrus, nounCIS, nouncliff, nounclimate, nounclimatic, adjectivecoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncockney, nouncol, nouncold front, nouncommuter belt, nouncompass, nounconfluence, nouncontinent, nouncontinental, adjectivecontinental shelf, nouncontour, nounconurbation, nouncoordinate, nouncorridor, nouncorrie, nouncoterminous, adjectivecouncil estate, nouncountry, nouncounty, nouncounty town, nouncourse, nouncove, nouncrag, nouncraggy, adjectivecreek, nouncrevasse, nouncrevice, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundateline, noundelta, noundesert, noundesert island, noundevelopment, noundistrict, noundivide, noundown, adverbdune, noundust bowl, nouneast, nouneast, adjectiveeast, adverbeastbound, adjectiveeasterly, adjectiveeasterly, nouneastern, adjectiveEasterner, nouneasternmost, adjectiveeastwards, adverbelevation, nouneminence, nounenvirons, nounequatorial, adjectiveerode, verberosion, nounescarpment, nounestuary, nounEurope, nounextraterritorial, adjectiveeyot, nounface, nounfarmland, nounfeeder, nounfiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood plain, nounfluvial, adjectivefrontier, nounfrontiersman, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungeo-, prefixgeography, noungeophysics, noungeopolitics, noungeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglaciation, nounglacier, nounglobe, noungoldfield, noungorge, noungrassland, nounGrecian, adjectivegreen belt, noungrid, noungrotto, noungroundwater, noungulch, noungulf, noungully, nounhead, nounheadland, nounheadwaters, nounheartland, nounhemisphere, nounhighland, adjectivehighlands, nounhigh water mark, nounhinterland, nounHome Counties, the, homeland, nounhurricane, noun-i, suffixIberian, adjectiveiceberg, nounice cap, nounice floe, nounice pack, nounice sheet, nouninhabitant, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninner city, nouninshore, adverbinsular, adjectiveintercontinental, adjectiveInternational Date Line, nounisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounisobar, nounIsraeli, adjectiveIsraeli, nounisthmus, nounItalian, adjectiveItalianate, adjectiveItalo-, prefixJapanese, adjectivekey, nounknoll, nounlagoon, nounlake, nounlandlocked, adjectivelandmass, nounlandslide, nounlandslip, nounlat., Latin, adjectiveLatin America, nounLatin American, adjectivelatitude, nounlevee, nounlittoral, nounlong., longitude, nounlongitudinal, adjectivelough, nounlowlands, nounlow-lying, adjectivelow water mark, nounmagnetic north, nounmagnetic pole, nounmarsh, nounmarshland, nounmeander, verbMediterranean, adjectiveMercator projection, nounmeridian, nounmesa, nounMiddle America, nounmidtown, adjectivemonsoon, nounmoorland, nounmorass, nounmountain, nounmountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudslide, nounmull, nounnarrows, nounnavigation, nounNE, neck, nounnor'-, prefixnorth, nounnorth, adjectivenorth, adverbNorth America, nounnortheast, nounnortheast, adjectivenortheasterly, adjectivenortheastern, adjectivenortheastwards, adverbnortherly, adjectivenorthern, adjectivenortherner, nounnorthernmost, adjectivenorthwards, adverbnorthwest, nounnorthwest, adjectivenorthwesterly, adjectivenorthwestern, adjectivenorthwestwards, adverbnotch, nounNW, NZ, oasis, nounoccidental, nounocean, nounonshore, adjectiveopenness, nounOrdnance Survey map, nounoriental, adjectiveoutcrop, nounoverspill, nounpack ice, nounpaddy, nounpalisade, nounpan-, prefixpanhandle, nounparallel, nounpeak, nounpeninsula, nounPersian, adjectivephysical geography, nounplain, nounplateau, nounpoint, nounpolar, adjectivepole, nounpolitical geography, nounpollutant, nounpop., populate, verbpopulation, nounprairie, nounprecipice, nounprecipitation, nounPrime Meridian, principality, nounprojection, nounpromontory, nounprovince, nounprovincial, adjectivepueblo, nounR, rainfall, nounrain forest, nounrain gauge, nounrainstorm, nounrange, nounravine, nounreef, nounreference, nounregion, nounregional, adjectiverelief map, nounreservoir, nounresettle, verbresidential, adjectiveresource, nounridge, nounrift valley, nounrise, verbriver, nounriver basin, nounriver bed, nounRoman, adjectiverotation, nounrugged, adjectiverun-off, nounrural, adjectivesand, nounsand bar, nounsandstorm, nounsandy, adjectivesavanna, nounScandinavian, nounscar, nounscarp, nounscree, nounscrubland, nounSE, seaboard, nounsea breeze, nounseafront, nounsea level, nounseaport, nounseaward, adjectivesection, nounsemitropical, adjectiveshelf, nounslough, nounsmog, nounsnowfield, nounsource, nounsouth, nounsouth, adjectivesouth, adverbSouth America, adjectivesoutheast, nounsoutheast, adjectivesoutheasterly, adjectivesoutheastern, adjectivesoutheastwards, adverbsoutherly, adjectivesouthern, adjectivesouthernmost, adjectivesouthwards, adverbsouthwest, nounsouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivesouthwestern, adjectivesouthwestwards, adverbspeleology, nounspit, nounspur, nounstrait, nounsubcontinent, nounsubtropical, adjectivesuburb, nounsuburban, adjectivesummit, nounsurvey, nounsurvey, verbSW, swamp, nountableland, nounterrain, nounterritory, nountidal, adjectivetidal wave, nountidewater, nountime zone, nountop, nountopography, nountor, nountornado, nountown, nountown centre, nountowpath, nountrack, nountract, nountrade route, nountrail, nountransatlantic, adjectivetranscontinental, adjectivetributary, nountropic, nountropical, adjectivetundra, nountyphoon, nounUK, the, uncharted, adjectiveup, adverbup-country, adjectiveuplands, nounupper, adjectiveupriver, adverbupstate, adjectiveupstream, adverbuptown, adverburban, adjectiveurbanized, adjectiveurban renewal, nounurban sprawl, nounUS, the, adjectivevalley, nounW, warm front, nounwaste, adjectivewasteland, nounwater, verbwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterfront, nounwaterhole, nounwatering place, nounwater meadow, nounwatershed, nounwater table, nounwaterway, nounweather vane, nounwest, nounwest, adjectiveWest, nounwestern, adjectiveWesterner, nounwesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwilderness, nounwolds, nounzoning, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► something erodes rock
Word family (=it gradually removes the surface of the rock)· Rainwater drained away, forming streams and rivers that began to erode the rock.
► rock erodes (away) (=its surface is gradually removed because of the action of water, wind etc)· The rocks had eroded away over the years.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► away· Many of the dark rocks stand on limestone pedestals, the surrounding rocks having been eroded away.· Secondly, it is possible that the beach gravels have been eroded away since their formation.· All my self-esteem, respect and confidence have been eroded away and need re-building.· Other ancient rights have been eroded away.· The trenches here have been left untouched, eroding away year by year.· It also caps many of the Jura box-folds, where the Cretaceous succession has been eroded away.
► further· In the same period the power of standing committee chairmen was further eroded by the institutionalization and proliferation of sub-committees.· Law and order was further eroded in April 1997.· And back on the Farms of the refugees, the rain will further erode a topsoil without crops to hold it together.
► gradually· As science had gradually eroded the freedom of time, so it had eroded the freedom of belief.· A series of predictable actions and reactions gradually erodes their adaptive resources.· We can never be satisfied, gradually eroding our self-esteem and confidence further.· We hope our health workers will gradually erode the fabric of their deception.· These stylistic differences have gradually eroded over the years, and today regional divisions have all but disappeared.
NOUN► base· Worse, the recent fall in the Nikkei is eroding their capital base.· Mayors inherited an eroding tax base and the loss of jobs.
► confidence· The revelation had devastated him, eroding his confidence and his desire for her.· Disagreement among experts about medical treatment in leprosy created confusion among patients and eroded their confidence in physicians.· We can never be satisfied, gradually eroding our self-esteem and confidence further.· This humiliation has eroded what little confidence Jean has.
► inflation· Sales of land began about 1540 and continued until Stuart times. Inflation eroded the revenue from land and commerce.· Slow economic growth reduces the likelihood inflation will accelerate and erode the value of bonds' fixed payments.· This shows how far general price inflation has eroded the level of spending shown in the detailed cash figures.· Signs the economy is recovering hurt bonds by sparking concern that inflation may accelerate, eroding bonds' fixed payments.· Further out, a higher inflation trend threatens, eroding these competitive gains.· Indications the economy may be picking up steam hurt bonds by sparking concern inflation may accelerate, eroding bonds' fixed payments.· A cooling economy reduces the risk inflation will erode the value of bonds' interest and principal payments.· Stronger economic growth means inflation, which erodes the buying power of bonds' fixed payments, could be poised to rise.
► margin· Will a rush of aspiring new producers erode that attractive margin?· First, falling values erode security margins, leading to breaches of covenant and discomfiture for lenders.· The cost of planning delays With current levels of interest can rapidly erode profit margins.· Sudden movements in exchange and interest rates can erode profit margins, strain your cashflow and shrink overall profits.
► power· Stronger economic growth means inflation, which erodes the buying power of bonds' fixed payments, could be poised to rise.
► profit· The cost of planning delays With current levels of interest can rapidly erode profit margins.· Accumulation through dynamic expansion would be halted when the need for more workers drove up wages and eroded profits.· Sudden movements in exchange and interest rates can erode profit margins, strain your cashflow and shrink overall profits.
► value· Slow economic growth reduces the likelihood inflation will accelerate and erode the value of bonds' fixed payments.· Inflation erodes the value of bonds' fixed-income payments.· That, he says, would erode the value of any exclusive agreement with Quaker.· A cooling economy reduces the risk inflation will erode the value of bonds' interest and principal payments.
► years· These stylistic differences have gradually eroded over the years, and today regional divisions have all but disappeared.· As we have seen, the civil and political elements of citizenship have been eroded in recent years.· His mousy hair, on the other hand, had been eroded by the years.
VERB► begin· Down those featureless slopes the rainwater drained, forming streams and rivers that began to erode the rock.
WORD FAMILYnounerosionverberode
1if the weather erodes rock or soil, or if rock or soil erodes, its surface is gradually destroyed: The cliffs are being constantly eroded by heavy seas. The rocks have gradually eroded away.2to gradually reduce something such as someone’s power or confidence: Our personal freedom is being gradually eroded away. Repeated exam failure had eroded her confidence.