abrade

abrade

verb \ə-ˈbrād\

abrad·edabrad·ing

Definition of ABRADE

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

— abrad·able \-ˈbrā-də-bəl\ adjective

— abrad·er noun

Examples of ABRADE

1. <ropes abraded by the rocks were a huge danger to the climbers>
2. <the prisoner's manacles abraded his wrists and ankles until they bled>

Origin of ABRADE

Latin abradere to scrape off, from ab- + radere to scrape — more at rodent

First Known Use: 1677

Related to ABRADE

Synonyms: chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, rasp, rub, wear

Related Words: file, gnaw, grate, graze, grind, nibble, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scuff, shave; erase, reduce, rub out, wear out, wipe (away); bite, break down, break up, chew, corrode, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, eat; hone, sharpen, whet

Near Antonyms: polish, smooth, soften, wax

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with ABRADE

afraid, air raid, arcade, Band-Aid, barmaid, Belgrade, blockade, bondmaid, bridesmaid, brigade, brocade, cascade, charade, clichéd, cockade, corrade, cross-trade, crusade, decade, degrade, dissuade, downgrade, evade, eyeshade, fair-trade, first aid, glissade, grenade, handmade, homemade, housemaid, inlaid, invade, limeade, low-grade, man-made, mermaid, milkmaid, navaid, nightshade, nursemaid, old maid, parade, persuade, pervade, plain-laid, pomade, postpaid, sacheted, scalade, sea-maid, self-made, stockade, sunshade, switchblade, torsade, twayblade, twice-laid, unbraid, unlade, unmade, unpaid, upbraid, upgrade