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Ryan
What's the difference among corrode, decay and rot? What's the difference among corrode, decay and rot?
Sep 14, 2017 6:30 AM
Answers · 4
Decay and rot are used to describe decomposing organic material. Corrode is usually used to describe materials, especially metals, being damaged by chemical actions.
September 14, 2017
To add to Jack's answer, I would say "rot" is normally used when talking about wood.
September 14, 2017
They all have the basic meaning of 'to break down', but each one refers to a different substance. When I hear 'corrode' I think of metal. When metal becomes rusty, it has corroded. Decay is usually talking about a living thing that has died. When a plant or animal dies, it starts to decay. Rot is basically the same as decay, and I can't really think of any situations in which you could use one but not the other.
September 14, 2017
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