friction

[frik-shuhn]

noun

1. Physics.,  surface resistance to relative motion, as of a body sliding or rolling.

2. the rubbing of the surface of one body against that of another.

   Rubber on pavement has more friction than steel wheel on steel rail.

3. dissension or conflict between people, nations, etc., because of differing ideas, wishes, etc..

   Friction between family members can escalate during a heat wave, as extreme weather can cause tempers to fray.

   Synonyms: contention, antagonism, clash, dissidence, discord

friction

/ ˈfrɪkʃən /

noun

1. a resistance encountered when one body moves relative to another body with which it is in contact

2. the act, effect, or an instance of rubbing one object against another

3. disagreement or conflict; discord

4. phonetics the hissing element of a speech sound, such as a fricative

5. perfumed alcohol used on the hair to stimulate the scalp

friction

1. A force on objects or substances in contact with each other that resists motion of the objects or substances relative to each other.

2. ◆ Static friction arises between two objects that are not in motion with respect to each other, as for example between a cement block and a wooden floor. It increases to counterbalance forces that would move the objects, up to a certain maximum level of force, at which point the objects will begin moving. It is measured as the maximum force the bodies will sustain before motion occurs.

3. ◆ Kinetic friction arises between bodies that are in motion with respect to each other, as for example the force that works against sliding a cement block along a wooden floor. Between two hard surfaces, the kinetic friction is usually somewhat lower than the static friction, meaning that more force is required to set the objects in motion than to keep them in motion.

4. See also drag

friction

1. The resistance of an object to the medium through which or on which it is traveling, such as air, water, or a solid floor.

Other Word Forms

• frictional adjective
• frictionless adjective
• frictionlessly adverb
• interfriction noun
• nonfriction noun
• self-friction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of friction¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin frictiōn-, stem of frictiō “a rubbing,” from frict(us) “rubbed” (past participle of fricāre “to rub”) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of friction¹

C16: from French, from Latin frictiō a rubbing, from fricāre to rub, rub down; related to Latin friāre to crumble

Example Sentences

Companies including Apple have sought to make the world's fifth-largest economy a key component of their global manufacturing operations, as they seek to insulate themselves against geopolitical friction between the United States and China.

Read more on Barron's

On the one hand, a rise in trade friction can disrupt regional logistics and damp global tech demand.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This could be yet another source of friction in the US-China relationship with trade tensions once again ramping up between the world's two biggest economies over tariffs and export controls.

Read more on BBC

Yet those small acts build trust, reduce friction and unlock better collaboration.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The expansion of the Keystone XL project has been a source of friction between the U.S. and Canada, when former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden were in power.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• animosity 
• antagonism 
• bad blood 
• bickering 
• conflict 
• discontent 
• discord 
• disharmony 
• dispute 
• dissension 
• hassle 
• hatred 
• hostility 
• quarrel 
• resentment 
• resistance 
• rivalry 
• strife 
• trouble 
• wrangling www.thesaurus.com