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erosion

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e⋅ro⋅sion

[i-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.

Origin:
1535–45; < L ērōsiōn- (s. of ērōsiō). See erose, -ion


e⋅ro⋅sion⋅al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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e·ro·sion   (ĭ-rō'zhən)   
n.  
  1. The process of eroding or the condition of being eroded: erosion of the beach; progressive erosion of confidence in our legal system; erosion of the value of the dollar abroad.

  2. The group of natural processes, including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and transportation, by which material is worn away from the earth's surface.


[Latin ērōsiō, ērōsiōn-, an eating away, from ērōsus, eaten away; see erose.]
e·ro'sion·al adj., e·ro'sion·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

erosion

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

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

erosion 
1541, from M.Fr. erosion, from L. erosionem (nom. erosio), from erodere "gnaw away," from ex- "away" + rodere "gnaw" (see rodent).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ero·sion
Pronunciation: i-'rO-zh&n
Function: noun
1 a : the superficial destruction of a surface area of tissue (as mucousmembrane) by inflammation, ulceration, or trauma <erosion of the uterine cervix> b : progressive loss of the hard substance of a tooth
2 : an instanceor product of erosion erosion on the skin half an inch in diameter>
Medical Dictionary

erosion e·ro·sion (ĭ-rō'zhən)
n.

  1. Superficial destruction of a surface by friction, pressure, ulceration, or trauma.

  2. The wearing away of a tooth by chemical or abrasive action. Also called odontolysis.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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