erosion

[ih-roh-zhuhn]

noun

1. the act or state of eroding; state of being eroded.

2. the process by which the surface of the earth is worn away by the action of water, glaciers, winds, waves, etc.

3. the gradual decline or disintegration of something.

   Each candidate is blaming the other’s party for the erosion of international trade.

erosion

/ ɪˈrəʊʒən /

noun

1. the wearing away of rocks and other deposits on the earth's surface by the action of water, ice, wind, etc

2. the act or process of eroding or the state of being eroded

erosion

1. The gradual wearing away of land surface materials, especially rocks, sediments, and soils, by the action of water, wind, or a glacier. Usually erosion also involves the transport of eroded material from one place to another, as from the top of a mountain to an adjacent valley, or from the upstream portion of a river to the downstream portion.

erosion

1. A type of weathering in which surface soil and rock are worn away through the action of glaciers, water, and wind.

Other Word Forms

• erosive adjective
• erosional adjective
• antierosion adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of erosion¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin ērōsiōn- (stem of ērōsiō ), derivative of ērōdere “to gnaw, eat away”; erode, -ion

Example Sentences

“Whether you believe in climate change or not, this situation is getting worse and worse, the coastal erosion and the landslide.”

From Los Angeles Times

New guardrails, retaining walls, erosion control and drainage systems were put in place to address the destruction.

From Los Angeles Times

Declining ratings and revenues — due to the erosion of appointment TV viewing in the streaming age — have hurt all late-night shows, including “Tonight.”

From Los Angeles Times

There are also risks of accelerated soil erosion and water contamination from ashes washed into rivers and reservoirs, according to Professor Stefan Doerr, Director of the Centre for Wildlife Research at Swansea University.

From BBC

It established lasting protection for specified wilderness areas within national forests by prohibiting road construction and logging which can destroy or disrupt habitats, increase erosion and worsen sediment pollution in drinking water, among other outcomes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• corrosion 
• decrease 
• destruction 
• disintegration