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小词详解 | erode

田间小站 田间小站 2022-09-30

erode 英 [ɪˈrəʊd] 美 [ɪˈroʊd]
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外刊例句

  • We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.
    我们正在世界范围内侵蚀我们的经济、生计、粮食安全、健康和生活质量的基础。
    ——《经济学人》
  • If the president fails to offer such reassurance, America’s position in Asia will continue to erode.
    如果总统未能给出这样的保证,那么美国在亚洲的地位将会继续削弱。
    ——《纽约时报》

基本释义

[verb] (of wind, water, or other natural agents) gradually wear away (soil, rock, or land)
[动词] (指风、水或其他自然因素)逐渐磨损(土壤、岩石或土地)


深入解读

Erode 是一个容易与 corrode 相混淆的单词。与 corrode 主要指化学上的“腐蚀、侵蚀”不同的是, erode 多指物理上的“腐蚀、侵蚀”或者说“风化”,即风、水或其他自然因素逐渐磨损土壤、岩石或土地等,比如:

  • 这座陡坡随着时间的推移逐渐风化了。
    The
    steep slope has eroded away over time.

从这个概念出发, erode 常用来喻指“逐渐破坏、削弱、损害”,即像风化那般经过一段时间逐渐缓慢地削弱或破坏权威、权利、信心、价值等,比如:

  • 她过去几个月的表现已经使我对她的判断力渐渐失去了信心。但她自己的信心从未减弱。
    Her behaviour over the last few months has eroded my confidence in her judgment. But her own confidence has never
    flagged.
  • 我们并不是一时冲动买了这所房子。为了得到最好的地段,我们愿意多支付些钱。并且偿还的按揭贷款将会因通货膨胀而贬值。
    We didn't buy the house on a
    whim. We're willing to pay a premium for the best location. And mortgage payments will be eroded by inflation.

从词源上看, erode 一词最早于17世纪初逆构自名词 erosion 。后者除了相应表示“腐蚀、侵蚀、风化”和权威、权利、信心、价值等的“逐渐破坏、削弱、损害”外,还在医学上表示“糜烂”,比如胃糜烂(gastric erosion)。

名著用例
He blamed Ron and Hermione: Their determined indifference was as bad as the relentless rain for dampening his spirits, but neither could erode his certainty, which remained absolute.
他怪罪于罗恩和赫敏,他们决意的漠视就像无情的大雨一样令他沮丧,但都不能削弱他的信心,他依然是那么确信无疑。
出自英国作家J·K·罗琳的奇幻小说《哈利·波特》系列的第七本《哈利·波特与死亡圣器》(Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)。

同近义词

  • weather: wear away or change the appearance or texture of (something) by long exposure to the air
  • abrade: scrape or wear away by friction or erosion
  • corrode: destroy or damage (metal, stone, or other materials) slowly by chemical action

往期回顾
小词详解 | cuddle
小词详解 | cram
小词详解 | aggravate

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