abrade

verb

ə-ˈbrād 

abraded; abrading

transitive verb

1

a

: to rub or wear away especially by friction : erode

b

: to irritate or roughen by rubbing

2

: to wear down in spirit : irritate, weary

intransitive verb

: to undergo abrasion

abradable

ə-ˈbrā-də-bəl 

adjective

abrader noun

Synonyms

• chafe
• corrade
• erode
• fray
• frazzle
• fret
• gall
• rasp
• rub
• wear

Examples of abrade in a Sentence

ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers

the prisoner's manacles abraded his wrists and ankles until they bled

Recent Examples on the Web

In response to the downstream concerns about the prevention and control of lyocell fibrillation—the fiber separation in yarn that can occur when textiles are wet and abraded, which can cause pilling—Sateri provides three cross-linking solutions that are formaldehyde-free and easy to operate. —Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 27 Sep. 2024

It’s believed this phenomenon is thanks to the fast flow of the water that abrades the rocky coast, dislodging more minerals into the ocean. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 27 July 2024

Gently dab at the stain until it's gone, taking care not to scrub, as friction can abrade the material and damage the lampshade. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024

Plus, the sensation inside my throat felt scary: raw, abraded. —Dessa Dessa Tanya Pérez Alec K. Redfearn, New York Times, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin abrādere "to remove by rubbing, scrape off," from ab- ab- + rādere "to scrape" — more at rase

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

abrade

verb

ə-ˈbrād 

abraded; abrading

1

: to rub or wear away especially by friction

2

: to irritate or roughen by rubbing

abrader noun

Medical Definition

abrade

transitive verb

ə-ˈbrād 

abraded; abrading

: to irritate or roughen by rubbing : chafe