ERODE
What does "ERODE" mean?
To wear away gradually by the action of wind, water, or other forces.
Meanings
- To wear down or be worn down little by little, especially of rock or soil. The river eroded the canyon walls over millions of years.
- To gradually weaken, diminish, or destroy something abstract. Each broken promise eroded their trust. figurative
Did you know?
- 'Erode' and 'rodent' share a root: both come from Latin 'rodere', to gnaw - water erodes a canyon the way a mouse gnaws a wall, one nibble at a time.
Word origin
From Latin 'erodere' (to gnaw away), from 'e-' (out, away) plus 'rodere' (to gnaw), the same root behind 'rodent' - so to erode is, literally, to be gnawed.
Remember it
ERODE shares a root with RODENT - both gnaw away at things, just on different timescales.
A little poem
Water has no fists-
yet it unbuilds the mountain
drop by patient drop.
haiku
Wordplay
- Why did the river never lose an argument with the cliff? It just kept making the same point, slowly, until the cliff gave way.
What it teaches
Nothing collapses all at once; erosion is just patience wearing the disguise of a single drop.
Quick facts
What does ERODE mean?
To wear away gradually by the action of wind, water, or other forces.
Is ERODE a valid word?
Yes — ERODE is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is ERODE?
ERODE has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does ERODE come from?
From Latin 'erodere' (to gnaw away), from 'e-' (out, away) plus 'rodere' (to gnaw), the same root behind 'rodent' - so to erode is, literally, to be gnawed.
What can ERODE teach us?
Nothing collapses all at once; erosion is just patience wearing the disguise of a single drop.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.