\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.

\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.