erosive

Erosive is an adjective describing something that undergoes erosion or is subject to erosive processes. It is derived from erosion, from Latin erodere, to gnaw away. In science, erosive describes materials, landscapes, and processes that remove soil, rock, or other substance through physical or chemical means, or surfaces that bear such action.

In geology and geomorphology, erosive processes include weathering and transport by water, ice, wind, and gravity, gradually wearing away rocks and soil. River and coastal erosion shape valleys and shorelines; glacial erosion carves features; wind-blown sand can abrade rock surfaces.

In materials science, erosive wear refers to material loss caused by chemical dissolution that is aided by mechanical action. In dentistry, dental erosion describes loss of tooth enamel caused by acids from foods, drinks, or stomach flux, not by bacteria.

In medicine, erosive describes mucosal lesions that erode or wear away tissue, such as erosive gastritis or erosive esophagitis, where superficial epithelium is damaged. These conditions are distinct from ulcers, which are deeper defects.

Related concepts include erosion and erosivity, with measurements of erosion rate or depth used in geology, engineering, and environmental science to assess landscape change, material degradation, or the impact of chemical–mechanical wear.