from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Corrosive \Cor*ro"sive\ (k?r-r?"s?v), a. [Cf. F. corrosif.]
1. Eating away; having the power of gradually wearing,
changing, or destroying the texture or substance of a
body; as, the corrosive action of an acid. "Corrosive
liquors." --Grew. "Corrosive famine." --Thomson.
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2. Having the quality of fretting or vexing.
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Care is no cure, but corrosive. --Shak.
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{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
excellent antisyphilitic; called also {mercuric
bichloride}. It is to be carefully distinguished from
calomel, the mild chloride of mercury.
[1913 Webster]