abrasion

American  

[uh-brey-zhuhn] / əˈbreɪ ʒən /

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

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abrasion British  

/ 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

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abrasion Scientific  

/ ə-brā′zhən /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of abrasion

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

Compare meaning

How does abrasion compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• excoriation vs. abrasion
• contusion vs. abrasion

Example Sentences

He also started diligently airbrushing or painting over photographs of the deceased: “I paint out all the abrasions, cuts and bruises, and open the eyes,” he explained, essentially resurrecting a likeness of the victim.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Most skin wounds that we get are from abrasions, which destroy the upper part of the skin," says Novak.

From Science Daily

Sir Geoff's academic work saw him invent the barley abrasion process - which involves deliberately damaging the protective husk of grains to speed up the process of malting.

From BBC

Trofodermin is readily available in Italy for skin abrasions, cuts and wounds.

From BBC

"That left skin abrasions on my knees," he said, adding it had been a "violating feeling".

From BBC

Related Words

• scrape