corrosive

[ kuh-roh-siv ]
/ kəˈroʊ sɪv /

adjective

having the quality of corroding or eating away; erosive.
harmful or destructive; deleterious: the corrosive effect of poverty on their marriage.
sharply sarcastic; caustic: corrosive comments on the speaker's integrity.

noun

something corrosive, as an acid or drug.

Origin of corrosive

1350–1400; late Middle English (< Middle French) < Medieval Latin corrōsīvus, equivalent to Latin corrōs(us) (see corrosion) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English corosif < Middle French < Latin as above

OTHER WORDS FROM corrosive

Example sentences from the Web for corrosive

British Dictionary definitions for corrosive

corrosive
/ (kəˈrəʊsɪv) /

adjective

(esp of acids or alkalis) capable of destroying solid materials
tending to eat away or consume
cutting; sarcastic a corrosive remark

noun

a corrosive substance, such as a strong acid or alkali

Derived forms of corrosive

corrosively, adverb corrosiveness, noun

Medical definitions for corrosive

corrosive
[ kə-rōsĭv ]

adj.

Causing or tending to cause the gradual destruction of a substance by chemical action.

n.

A substance having the capability or tendency to cause slow destruction.