The term 'eat into' can be described by three crossword solutions: ERODE (5 letters), ETCH (4 letters), and CORRODE (7 letters). All three words refer to the process of wearing away or damaging something gradually over time. ERODE is the most general of the three, referring to any type of gradual wearing away, while ETCH and CORRODE are more specific terms. ETCH refers to a process of cutting or engraving a design into a hard surface, while CORRODE refers to the chemical breakdown of a material due to exposure to an acid or other corrosive substance.