abrasion

/əˈbreɪʒn/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈbreɪʒn/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈbrā-zhən/ (ame, mw)

abrasion — noun

  • abrasionsingular
  • abrasionsplural

1. the gradual wearing away of a surface that happens when something rubs against i

1.名詞B2
釋義

the gradual wearing away of a surface that happens when something rubs against it over time, often caused by wind, water, or regular use

例句

Desert wind and sand wore the stone pillars into rounded shapes through constant abrasion.

abrasion + of + natural cause (wind, sand)

Years of foot traffic wore deep grooves into the station's marble floor through abrasion.

abrasion + from + repeated physical action

同義詞
  • wear

    broader; can describe any gradual damage from use, not only rubbing

  • erosion

    more specific to natural forces like wind, water, or weather

  • friction

    focuses on the physical force itself rather than the result on the surface

反義詞

文法句型

abrasion + of + object

abrasion + from + cause

用法筆記

Usually uncountable; describes a gradual, long-term process rather than a single event. Common in geological, industrial, and mechanical contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The abrasion on my car door happened when I hit a pole.
✅The scratch on my car door happened when I hit a pole.
💡A scratch is a single event; abrasion is gradual wearing over time.
❌I need an abrasion for my kitchen knife.
✅I need to sharpen my kitchen knife.
💡Abrasion refers to the wearing process, not the tool used for sharpening.

2. a damaged area on the skin or another surface where rubbing has removed the top

2.名詞B1
釋義

a damaged area on the skin or another surface where rubbing has removed the top layer, typically caused by falling against a rough surface

例句

Haruto fell off his bicycle and got a painful abrasion on his knee.

abrasion + on + body part

The nurse cleaned the abrasion on the child's palm and covered it with a bandage.

medical context: clean + abrasion

同義詞
  • scrape

    less formal, more commonly used in everyday speech

  • graze

    especially common in British English; lighter than an abrasion

  • scratch

    thinner and less severe; caused by a sharp object rather than a rough surface

文法句型

abrasion + on + body part

minor/superficial + abrasion

abrasion + to + body part

用法筆記

More formal than 'scrape' or 'graze.' In medical settings, an abrasion is a superficial wound that does not extend deep into the skin layers. Can also describe surface damage on objects.

常見錯誤

❌I have a deep abrasion that needs stitches.
✅I have a deep cut that needs stitches.
💡Abrasions are surface-level; deep wounds are cuts or lacerations.
❌The abrasion on my finger is infected and has pus.
✅The cut on my finger is infected and has pus.
💡Infected wounds are not typically described as abrasions unless they began as one.