The term 'water damage' can be summarized by the three-letter word 'ROT'. ROT stands for 'Reaction, Oxidation, and Tarnishing', which are all processes that occur when water comes into contact with certain materials. Reaction is a chemical process that occurs when two or more substances interact with each other. Oxidation is a process in which oxygen combines with another substance, often resulting in corrosion. Tarnishing is a process in which a metal surface becomes discolored due to oxidation. All of these processes can cause significant damage to materials exposed to water, leading to costly repairs.