noun

abrasion

uh-BRAY-zhun/əˈbreɪʒn/

The scraping or wearing away of a surface through friction.

An abrasion leaves worn fibers on the wooden surface.

A close view of a wooden surface has a shallow scraped area with worn fibers and fine debris; chooses another-surface sense, no graphic wound.

Etymology

abLatinaway, off

+rasLatinto scrape, shave

+ionLatinaction or result

The pieces express scraping something away. Originally the act of scraping, abrasion also came to name its result: the damaged area left on skin or another surface.

In context

Survival Skills for Everyone2:29

treating a road rash abrasion involves cleaning the wound, applying antibiotic ointment, covering it with a sterile dressing, changing the dressing regularly, and monitoring for infection.

How Do You Treat A Road Rash Abrasion? - Survival Skills for Everyone

More examples

The coating protects the metal from abrasion.
She cleaned the shallow abrasion on her elbow.
Windblown sand caused abrasion on the exposed rock.

Forms

abrasion · abrasions

abrade verb — scrape or wear away by friction

Similar words

scratch: A scratch is often a narrow mark; an abrasion can cover a broader scraped area.
scrape: Scrape is an everyday term for an abrasion; abrasion is more formal and also applies to nonliving surfaces.