noun
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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.
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A scraped area on the skin or mucous membranes.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of abrasion
1650–60; < Medieval Latin abrāsiōn- (stem of abrāsiō ), equivalent to abrās ( us ) scraped off (past participle of abrādere; see abrade) + -iōn- -ion
Compare meaning
How does abrasion compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An abrasion is a scrape. An abrasion can happen to a person, as in a skinned knee, or to an object, as in what you get when you apply sandpaper to wood. The noun abrasion comes to us from the Latin abradere, which means “scrape away” or “shave off.” Any area that shows evidence of scratching or scraping can be called an abrasion, like that spot on the front bumper of your car from when you cut it too close pulling into the gas station. Abrasion can also mean the process of friction causing scratches, as in: "the abrasion of everyone sliding chairs on the floor left terrible marks."
Vocabulary lists containing abrasion
Unit 1: Telling Details
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"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
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CTE Construction ("Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills,") Vocabulary from Module One
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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:
At the time, Los Angeles police said that paramedics transported a woman who suffered a head abrasion to the hospital.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
They bear the abrasion of files handled, claims contested and Jewish allegiance translated from words into work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
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 ● Jun. 13, 2025
Shikhanova says to check the Martindale Index, an abrasion resistance measurement, for upholstery projects.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
When I touched the abrasion, Shawn released a long sigh and his eyes opened.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
The animals operated in the high temperatures of La Guaira, exposing themselves to dehydration and abrasions to their fur, something visible on Sisu's neck.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
The skin on both heels and a patch below my right pinkie had worn away, leaving behind angry pink abrasions.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
The emergency services said two people received medical treatment after suffering abrasions and around 70 people were evacuated as the fire was put out.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
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 ● Jan. 29, 2026
But now all balance is lost and we plunge down headlong, both of us, noisily and without grace, gathering momentum and abrasions as we go.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
