Skip to main content
erosion

erosion

34 3.7
The gradual wearing away of land, rock, and other materials by forces such as water or wind
  • noun
  • /ɪˈroʊʒən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : erosión
  • The heavy rain caused significant erosion of the riverbank over the past few weeks.
  • soil erosion
  • shoreline erosion
  • erosion control

You know, we just watched the water, the waves, the erosion, the birds.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Construction of the building that became the Coffeehouse caused massive erosion of soil into the nearby ravine.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The shoreline was altered by the erosion of time.

  • Ah, was there any erosion to the stone and sand base of the building?

  • I see big problems with beach erosion... and a heavy mortgage.

  • The book predicted an erosion rate of one foot a year in the new century.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • And solved all of their soil erosion problems.

  • We try to maintain the house as best we can, but with the cold and the rain it's impossible to stop the damp and erosion.

  • I'm preparing a report on soil erosion at the moment.

  • Notice how the edges are rounded, worn smooth by the erosion of water.

  • Visitors to Eritrea voice alarm at the extent of soil erosion and the degradation of the woodlands.

    Academic text (1991)

Synonyms

eating away
vserosion
7 4.9

Slow wearing away of something by natural forces or repeated harm

is the technical geological term for the same gradual destructive process
grinding
vserosion
  • Specialized
4 5.1

A slow wearing away of rock by water, wind, or ice

is the broader natural removal process that can involve particle friction
weathering
vserosion
  • Specialized
2 3.6

The natural breaking of rocks into small pieces by wind, water, or plants

is about removal and transport of material rather than just in-place breakdown
abrasion
vserosion
1 6.0

The wearing down of rock by wind, water or ice

is the broader process of natural material removal rather than only mechanical grinding
attrition
vserosion
  • Specialized
1 7.4

Slow wearing away of a surface by rubbing or natural forces

is broader, covering removal by many natural forces not only friction
wearing away
vserosion
  • Specialized
5.1

Slow loss of a surface by water, wind, or rubbing

is the standard scientific term for that same gradual removal process
wearing
vserosion
5.8

Slow loss of material as water or wind rubs it

is the formal general name for the same gradual removal
corrasion
vserosion
  • Specialized
9.9

The wearing away of rock by sand and small stones carried by wind, water, or ice

is the general natural removal process beyond particle-driven mechanical action
detrition
vserosion
  • Specialized
9.9

A slow wearing away of a surface when something rubs it

is mainly natural material removal not focused on machines or tools
denudation
vserosion
  • Specialized
8.9

Removal of a surface layer, for example from skin or land by natural forces

is the common term for the wider process of removing surface material
deflation
vserosion
  • Specialized
7.2

Wind removes soil and sand from land, causing erosion

is the broader set of processes including that wind-driven removal
planation
vserosion
  • Specialized
9.9

A process that wears away rock or soil to make a nearly level surface

is the general gradual removal process not limited to forming level surfaces

Antonyms

deposition
  • Specialized
6 7.2

Material that settles in one place after water, wind, or ice moves it

restoration
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A model showing how a place or animal looked long ago

Compounds

beach erosion
  • Specialized
3 3.5

The loss of sand from a beach caused by waves and tides

soil erosion
  • Specialized
3 3.8

The top part of land being worn away by rain or wind

How Worn

erosion
  • Specialized
34 3.7
attrition
  • Specialized
1 7.4
abrasion
4 6.1
to wear
470 3.3

Surface Forms

erosion singular
erosions plural

Morphology

erosion = erode (transparent) = erode + ion

A straightforward noun formed from the verb 'erode' with the productive suffix '-ion'; the meaning 'process/result of eroding' is directly derived.

Etymology

Erosion comes from the old Latin verb erodere, which meant 'to gnaw away'. So imagine water, wind or ice slowly 'gnawing' at rock and soil and wearing it away.