weathering; erosion
Meanings
3 senses · 7 examplesverb
to weather; to erode; to wear away
Used for surfaces (e.g., stone, metal, soil) being gradually worn down by natural forces.
This ancient stone stele has been weathered by wind and rain over thousands of years, and the inscriptions are now illegible.
Seawater continuously erodes the rocks along the shore.
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Acid rain accelerates the erosion of building surfaces.
verb
to denude; to level by erosion
technicalA geological term describing the process where natural agents (wind, water, ice) wear down elevated landforms.
Glacial erosion shaped the unique landforms of the Alps.
After millions of years of river erosion, a vast plain was formed here.
verb
to corrode; to eat away
A general term for any process that gradually destroys or wears away a material, often used interchangeably with 侵蚀 in geology. Can also be used metaphorically.
Bureaucratic thinking is eroding the organization's efficiency and vitality.
The economic crisis corroded the public's trust in the government.