Crossword Dictionary
erosion
erosion - n
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it); a gradual decline of something
Erosion is the geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water. A similar process, weathering, breaks down or dissolves rock, but does not involve movement.
Erosion is the opposite of deposition, the geological process in which earthen materials are deposited, or built up, on a landform.
Most erosion is performed by liquid water, wind, or ice (usually in the form of a glacier). If the wind is dusty, or water or glacial ice is muddy, erosion is taking place. The brown color indicates that bits of rock and soil are suspended in the fluid (air or water) and being transported from one place to another. This transported material is called sediment.
Erode
erode, gnaw, gnaw at, eat at, wear away - v
become ground down or deteriorate; "Her confidence eroded"
Synonyms
corrode, destroy, abrade, bite, consume, crumble, disintegrate, eat, gnaw, scour, spoil, waste
Examples
The river followed the temporary course long enough to erode a deep gorge, known as Grande Coulee, along part of its length.
At what point will video game realism erode that line to the point where gamers feel killing is a natural behavior?
Since taking the team up to the Premiership as champions two years ago, the previously untouchable Ulsterman has seen his popularity erode gradually.
Etymology
1610s, "gnaw or eat away" (transitive), a back-formation from erosion, or else from French éroder, from Latin erodere "to gnaw away, consume," from assimilated form of ex "away" (see ex-) + rodere "to gnaw" (see rodent). Intransitive sense "become worn away" is by 1905. Related: Eroded; eroding. Originally of acids, ulcers, etc.; geological sense is from 1830.