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detrition

American  
[dih-trish-uhn] / dɪˈtrɪʃ ən /

noun

  1. the act of wearing away by rubbing.


detrition British  
/ dɪˈtrɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act of rubbing or wearing away by friction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of detrition

1665–75; < Medieval Latin dētrītiōn- (stem of dētrītiō ), equivalent to Latin dētrīt ( us ) (past participle of dēterere; see detritus) + -iōn- -ion


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Friction -- N. friction, attrition; rubbing, abrasion, scraping &c. v.; confrication†, detrition, contrition†, affriction†, abrasion, arrosion†, limature†, frication†, rub; elbow grease; rosin; massage; roughness &c.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

Another is the constant repetition of certain words and phrases which have lost their meaning by detrition and are known to all.

From American Sketches 1908 by Charles Whibley

The site or lie of the city is principally in two hollow basins, in which the detrition of houses forms now a soil for grain, for fruit gardens and good tobacco.

From Byeways in Palestine by James Finn

Omaha Intelligencer," which has escaped the detrition of the thirty-six thousand days and nights, he will say,— "Why, this was the beginning of what we do now!

From The Brick Moon and Other Stories by Edward Everett Hale

Mr. Jukes Brown, whom I have just quoted, says: “The Wold hills must have been, in some way, exposed to a severe and long-continued detrition, when erosive agencies were very active.”

From Records of Woodhall Spa and Neighbourhood Historical, Anecdotal, Physiographical, and Archaeological, with Other Matter by James Conway Walter

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