abrasion

[uh-brey-zhuhn]

noun

1. a scraped spot or area; the result of rubbing or abrading.

   abrasions on his leg caused by falling on the gravel.

   Synonyms: lesion, scrape, sore

2. the act or process of abrading.

   Synonyms: erosion, rubbing

abrasion

/ əˈbreɪʒən /

noun

1. the process of scraping or wearing down by friction

2. a scraped area or spot; graze

3. geography the effect of mechanical erosion of rock, esp a river bed, by rock fragments scratching and scraping it; wearing down Compare attrition corrasion

abrasion

1. The process of wearing away a surface by friction. A rock undergoes abrasion when particles of sand or small pieces of rock are carried across its surface by a glacier, stream, or the wind.

2. A scraped area on the skin or mucous membranes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of abrasion¹

1650–60; < Medieval Latin abrāsiōn- (stem of abrāsiō ), equivalent to abrās ( us ) scraped off (past participle of abrādere; abrade ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of abrasion¹

C17: from Medieval Latin abrāsiōn-, from the past participle of Latin abrādere to _abrade

Related Words

• scrape