corrosive

Definitions

1. 1.Having the quality of fretting or vexing. Care is no cure, but corrosive. Shak. Corrosive sublimate (Chem.), mercuric chloride, HgCl2; so called because obtained by sublimation, and because of its harsh irritating action on the body tissue. Usually it is in the form of a heavy, transparent, crystalline substance, easily soluble, and of an acrid, burning taste. It is a virulent poison, a powerful antiseptic, and an exellent antisyphilitic; called also mercuric bichloride. It is to be carefully distinguished from calomel, the mild chloride of mercury.
2. 2.That which has the quality of eating or wearing away gradually. [Corrosives] act either directly, by chemically destroying the part, or indirectly by causing inflammation and gangrene. Dunglison.
3. 3.That which has the power of fretting or irritating. Such speeches . . . are grievous corrosives. Hooker. -- Cor*ro"sive*ly, adv. -- Cor*ro"sive*ness, n.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "corrosive" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is corrosive.

• What is that which has the quality of eating or wearing away gradually. [Corrosives] act either directly, by chemically destroying the part, or indirectly by causing inflammation and gangrene. Dunglison called?
• What is that which has the power of fretting or irritating. Such speeches . . . are grievous corrosives. Hooker. -- Cor*ro"sive*ly, adv. -- Cor*ro"sive*ness, n called?