abrade

transitive-verb
UK: /əˈbreɪd/
US: /əˈbreɪd/

  1. To wear away or rub away the surface of something by friction.

    1. The rough sandpaper will abrade the wood. [ ] [ ]
    2. The constant rubbing of the rope will abrade the railing over time. [ ] [ ]

  2. To erode or wear down by friction; to cause damage by rubbing.

    1. Rocks abrade against each other in the river. [ ] [ ]
    2. Wind and sand abrade the ancient monuments, slowly changing their appearance. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

erode corrode chafe wear away rub grind scrape
abrade intransitive-verb

  1. To undergo erosion or wear down due to friction.

    1. The tire will abrade with use on the road. [ ] [ ]
    2. The metal surface began to abrade after years of exposure to the elements. [ ] [ ]

  2. To become worn or damaged due to rubbing or scraping against a surface.

    1. His skin started to abrade after the long race in rough clothing. [ ] [ ]
    2. Coastal rocks abrade over time, influenced by the tide and weather conditions. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "abrade" in English means: To wear away or rub away the surface of something by friction., To erode or wear down by friction; to cause damage by rubbing..

The phonetic transcription of "abrade" is /əˈbreɪd/ in British English and /əˈbreɪd/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "abrade": erode, corrode, chafe, wear away, rub, grind, scrape.

Example usage of "abrade": "The rough sandpaper will abrade the wood.". More examples on the page.