Corrosive \Cor*ro"sive\, n.

1. 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.

2. 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 Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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.

2. 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 excellent antisyphilitic; called also mercuric bichloride. It is to be carefully distinguished from calomel, the mild chloride of mercury.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)