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noun

abrasion

uh-BRAY-zhuhn

Abrasion (noun) means a scraped area of skin where the surface has been rubbed or scratched off. Example: “He cleaned the abrasion on his knee after the fall.”

noun
1
A scraped area of skin where the surface has been rubbed or scratched off.
"He cleaned the abrasion on his knee after the fall."
"The nurse dressed a small abrasion on the patient's arm."
2
The gradual wearing away of a surface caused by friction or rubbing.
"Years of wind-blown sand caused abrasion on the cliff face."

How to use abrasion

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDamage caused by scraping or rubbing — whether it's a graze on skin or a rock surface worn smooth over time.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
minor abrasion surface abrasion abrasion resistance

Word forms

abrasions plural

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He cleaned the _____ on his knee after the fall.

Etymology

From Latin abrasio, "a scraping," rooted in abrado, "to scrape off" — the same source as the verb "abrade."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for abrasion

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Frequently asked questions

What does “abrasion” mean?

The word “abrasion” means a scraped area of skin where the surface has been rubbed or scratched off. In plain terms, damage caused by scraping or rubbing — whether it's a graze on skin or a rock surface worn smooth over time.

How do you pronounce “abrasion”?

“Abrasion” is pronounced uh-BRAY-zhuhn (/əˈbɹeɪ.ʒən/ in IPA).

How do you use “abrasion” in a sentence?

Here is “abrasion” used in a sentence: “He cleaned the abrasion on his knee after the fall.”

What part of speech is “abrasion”?

“Abrasion” is a noun.

Where does the word “abrasion” come from?

The word “abrasion” comes from Latin. From Latin abrasio, "a scraping," rooted in abrado, "to scrape off" — the same source as the verb "abrade.".

How many meanings does “abrasion” have?

“Abrasion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a scraped area of skin where the surface has been rubbed or scratched off.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial