When rocks are gradually worn away by water, salt, wind, plants, and animals, it's called weathering. Many of the world's most breathtaking rock formations are the result of weathering.
Weathering is the process of rocks disintegrating due to weather conditions or other biological causes. This includes chemical effects caused by minerals, physical pressure from plants or animals, and the scraping of ice as it freezes and thaws. During weathering, the worn-away pieces of rock stay nearby; if they're swept away by water or wind, that's called erosion.