1. (v. t.) To wear away or gradually diminish as by action of a strong acid or a caustic alkali\.

2. (v. t.) To consume; to wear away; to prey upon; to impair.

3. (v. i.) To have corrosive action; to be subject to corrosion.

abate ablate atomize bate be eaten away bite break up canker come apart consume consume away crack up crumble crumble into dust decay decline decompose decrease deliquesce die away diminish disintegrate disjoin disorganize dissolve dive drop drop off dwindle eat eat away eat into eat out ebb erode etch fall fall away fall off fall to pieces fission gnaw languish lessen let up melt away molder nibble away oxidize plummet plunge run low rust sag scour shrink sink split subside tail off wane waste waste away wear wear away