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abrasion
noun
abra·sion
ə-ˈbrā-zhən
1
a
: a wearing, grinding, or rubbing away by friction
b
2
: an abraded area of the skin or mucous membrane
Examples of abrasion in a Sentence
abrasion of rocks by wind and water
walked away from the auto accident with only minor abrasions
Recent Examples on the Web
Some anglers prefer lightweight braid tied to a lightweight fluorocarbon leader (more sensitivity paired with more invisibility), while others will use straight fluorocarbon (the least visible line with high abrasion resistance).
—Nicole Stone, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2024
An officer observed two small cuts on the woman’s forehead, a small abrasion on the inside of her lower lip, three small marks on the inside of her left bicep and saw that her neck was red.
—Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2024
Besides materials, look for cookware that comes with protective casing or nesting designs that protect more vulnerable items (like ceramic pots and pans) from abrasions and damage in transit.
—Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2024
But despite these life-changing benefits, anti-trans activists focus on the risks of binding, such as shortness of breath, skin abrasions, or shoulder pain, and seek to restrict the practice.
—TIME, 8 May 2024
These are tough gloves that are more resistant to abrasions.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
Start by making small abrasions in the areas where holes or fraying would naturally occur: At the knees, yes, but also the around hems, pocket edges, and button holes.
—Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
Police said a preliminary investigation determined that a 27-year-old man, identified as Xavier Israel, threw a rock at Stuhlbarg, which struck him in the back of the neck and caused an abrasion.
—USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
The initial autopsy, conducted the day after Journey died, revealed abrasions on Journey’s face that appeared to be from scratching, but no significant trauma.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abrasion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near abrasion
Cite this Entry
“Abrasion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abrasion. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
abrasion
noun
abra·sion
ə-ˈbrā-zhən
1
: a rubbing, grinding, or wearing away by friction
2
: a place where the surface has been rubbed or scraped off
an abrasion on her knee
Medical Definition
abrasion
noun
abra·sion
ə-ˈbrā-zhən
1
: wearing, grinding, or rubbing away by friction
2
a
: the rubbing or scraping of the surface layer of cells or tissue from an area of the skin or mucous membrane
also
: a place so abraded
b
: the mechanical wearing away of the tooth surfaces by chewing
More from Merriam-Webster on abrasion
Nglish: Translation of abrasion for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of abrasion for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about abrasion
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