Erode v. t. (past & past part. eroded; pres. part. eroding)
1.
To eat into or away; to corrode; as, canker erodes the flesh. "The blood... erodes the vessels.""The smaller charge is more apt to... erode the gun."
2.
(Geol. & Phys. Geog.)
(a)
To wear away; as, streams and glaciers erode the land.
(b)
To produce by erosion, or wearing away; as, glaciers erode U-shaped valleys.
3.
To reduce or lessen as if by eroding; as, a politician's base of support is eroded by evidence of corruption; the buying power of the dollar is eroded by inflation. (fig.)