CORROSIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does corrosive mean? 

• CORROSIVE (noun)
  The noun CORROSIVE has 1 sense:

1. a substance having the tendency to cause corrosion (such a strong acids or alkali)

  Familiarity information: CORROSIVE used as a noun is very rare.

• CORROSIVE (adjective)
  The adjective CORROSIVE has 2 senses:

1. of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

2. spitefully sarcastic

  Familiarity information: CORROSIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CORROSIVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A substance having the tendency to cause corrosion (such a strong acids or alkali)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("corrosive" is a kind of...):

chemical compound; compound ((chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight)

Derivation:

corrosive (of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action)

• CORROSIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

Synonyms:

caustic; corrosive; erosive; mordant; vitriolic

Similar:

destructive (causing destruction or much damage)

Derivation:

corrode (become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid)

corrode (cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid)

corrosive (a substance having the tendency to cause corrosion (such a strong acids or alkali))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Spitefully sarcastic

Context example:

corrosive cristism

Similar:

sarcastic (expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds)

 Context examples 

A toxic, corrosive, colorless liquid used to make fertilizers, dyes, explosives, and other chemicals.

(Nitric acid, NCI Dictionary)

Toxic at high concentrations, it reacts with moisture in the air to form nitric acid, highly corrosive and hazardous to plants and animals.

(Nitrogen Dioxide, NCI Thesaurus)

Highly toxic; corrosive to the skin.

(Phenol, NCI Thesaurus)

An odorless, corrosive, oily liquid with an onion-like odor that emits toxic fumes upon heating.

(Dimethyl Sulfate, NCI Thesaurus)

Testing the device for its corrosive behavior to specific environments or materials.

(Device Degradation Corrosion Erosion Testing Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)

In the future, a pocket of corrosive water will sit just below the surface, making life difficult for these primarily surface-dwelling species.

(Marine organisms in Southern Ocean will face shallower zone for life, National Science Foundation)

Lead chromate is highly corrosive and is a strong oxidizing agent.

(Lead Chromate, NCI Thesaurus)

Exposure to this substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and lungs and leads to blindness and blistering of the skin and can cause severe and sometimes fatal respiratory damage.

(Mustard Gas, NCI Thesaurus)

Little absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, bismuth subsalicylate exerts a local effect on the gastric mucosa, coating it and protecting it from the corrosive effects of acid and pepsin.

(Bismuth Subsalicylate, NCI Thesaurus)

A highly corrosive, inorganic substance that contains the metallic element chromium in its positive-6 valence state.

(Chromium Hexavalent Compound, NCI Thesaurus)