3 N‑COUNT If there is a correspondence between two things, there is a close similarity or connection between them. □ [+ between ] In African languages there is a close correspondence between sounds and letters.
co r|re|spo nd|ence course (correspondence courses ) N‑COUNT A correspondence course is a course in which you study at home, receiving your work by post and sending it back by post. □ I took a correspondence course in computing.
cor|re|spond|ent ◆◆◇ /kɒ r I spɒ ndənt, [AM ] kɔː r-/ (correspondents ) N‑COUNT A correspondent is a newspaper or television journalist, especially one who specializes in a particular type of news. □ …The Times Diplomatic Correspondent.
cor|re|spond|ing|ly /kɒ r I spɒ nd I ŋli, [AM ] kɔː r-/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj/adv] You use correspondingly when describing a situation which is closely connected with one you have just mentioned or is similar to it. □ As his political stature has shrunk, he has grown correspondingly more dependent on the army.
cor|ri|dor /kɒ r I dɔː r , [AM ] kɔː r I dər/ (corridors )
1 N‑COUNT A corridor is a long passage in a building, with doors and rooms on one or both sides.
2 N‑COUNT A corridor is a strip of land that connects one country to another or gives it a route to the sea through another country. □ The republic lay in a narrow corridor of disputed land.
cor|robo|rate /kərɒ bəre I t/ (corroborates , corroborating , corroborated ) VERB To corroborate something that has been said or reported means to provide evidence or information that supports it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] I had access to a wide range of documents which corroborated the story. ● cor|robo|ra|tion /kərɒ bəre I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] He needed independent corroboration of his version of the accident.
cor|robo|ra|tive /kərɒ bərət I v, [AM ] -re I t I v/ ADJ [ADJ n] Corroborative evidence or information supports an idea, account, or argument. [FORMAL ] □ …a written statement supported by other corroborative evidence.
cor|rode /kəroʊ d/ (corrodes , corroding , corroded )
1 VERB If metal or stone corrodes , or is corroded , it is gradually destroyed by a chemical or by rust. □ [V ] He has devised a process for making gold wires which neither corrode nor oxidise. □ [be V -ed] Engineers found the structure had been corroded by moisture. □ [V n] Acid rain destroys trees and corrodes buildings. ● cor|rod|ed ADJ □ The investigators found that the underground pipes were badly corroded.
2 VERB To corrode something means to gradually make it worse or weaker. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] Suffering was easier to bear than the bitterness he felt corroding his spirit.
cor|ro|sion /kəroʊ ʒ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Corrosion is the damage that is caused when something is corroded. □ Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.
cor|ro|sive /kəroʊ s I v/
1 ADJ A corrosive substance is able to destroy solid materials by a chemical reaction. □ Sodium and sulphur are highly corrosive.
2 ADJ If you say that something has a corrosive effect, you mean that it gradually causes serious harm. [FORMAL ] □ …the corrosive effects of inflation.
cor|ru|gat|ed /kɒ rəge I t I d, [AM ] kɔː r-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Corrugated metal or cardboard has been folded into a series of small parallel folds to make it stronger. □ …a hut with a corrugated iron roof.
cor|rupt /kərʌ pt/ (corrupts , corrupting , corrupted )
1 ADJ Someone who is corrupt behaves in a way that is morally wrong, especially by doing dishonest or illegal things in return for money or power. □ …to save the nation from corrupt politicians of both parties. □ He had accused three opposition members of corrupt practices. ● cor|rupt|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …several government officials charged with acting corruptly.
2 VERB [usu passive] If someone is corrupted by something, it causes them to become dishonest and unjust and unable to be trusted. □ [be V -ed] It is sad to see a man so corrupted by the desire for money and power.
3 VERB To corrupt someone means to cause them to stop caring about moral standards. □ [V n] …warning that television will corrupt us all. □ [V ] Cruelty depraves and corrupts.
4 VERB [usu passive] If something is corrupted , it becomes damaged or spoiled in some way. □ [be V -ed] Some of the finer type-faces are corrupted by cheap, popular computer printers. □ [V -ed] …corrupted data.
cor|rup|tion ◆◇◇ /kərʌ pʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Corruption is dishonesty and illegal behaviour by people in positions of authority or power. □ Distribution of food throughout the country is being hampered by inefficiency and corruption.
cor|sage /kɔː r sɑː ʒ/ (corsages ) N‑COUNT A corsage is a very small bunch of flowers that is fastened to a woman's dress below the shoulder.
cor|set /kɔː r s I t/ (corsets ) N‑COUNT A corset is a stiff piece of underwear worn by some women, especially in the past. It fits tightly around their hips and waist and makes them thinner around the waist when they wear it.
cor|set|ed /kɔː r s I t I d/ ADJ A woman who is corseted is wearing a corset.
cor|tege /kɔː r te I ʒ, [AM ] -te ʒ/ (corteges ) also cortège N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A cortege is a procession of people who are walking or riding in cars to a funeral.
cor|tex /kɔː r teks/ (cortices /kɔː r t I siːz/) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The cortex of the brain or of another organ is its outer layer. [MEDICAL ] □ …the cerebral cortex.