erosion

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the gradual wearing away of soil, rock, or another surface by water, wind, ice, or chemical action

   Planting grass on the slope reduced erosion during heavy rain.

2. 2
   noun

   the gradual weakening, reduction, or loss of something

   Repeated scandals caused an erosion of public trust.

Common collocations

• soil erosion Noun + noun

From French érosion and Latin erosio ("a gnawing away"), from erodere ("to gnaw away"). The geological sense preserves that image of gradual removal; the figurative sense applies the same process to confidence, rights, and other abstractions.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images