erosion

Everyday

1. Erosion is the slow wearing away of rock, soil or land by water, wind, ice or waves. tree →
2. Erosion can mean the slow weakening or loss of something, like trust or rights. tree →

In the lessons

A key geography and science word: rivers carve valleys, waves erode cliffs, wind blows away soil. Planting trees and grass helps stop erosion. In formal writing it can describe something slowly getting worse. Phrases: soil erosion, coastal erosion, wind erosion, the erosion of trust.

Examples

• Coastal erosion has made the cliff fall into the sea. tree →
• Tree roots help prevent soil erosion. tree →
• The Grand Canyon was made by erosion over millions of years. tree →
• Wind erosion shaped the strange rocks in the desert. tree →
• The farmers planted hedges to stop erosion. tree →
• Erosion is slow, but it never stops. tree →
• Lies caused an erosion of trust between the friends. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «erosion», not «an erosion» usually. Verb: erode. Do not confuse with «weathering» (rock breaking up where it is) — erosion means the pieces are carried away. Also not «corrosion» (metal being eaten away by rust or chemicals).