tribology

tri·bol·o·gy

noun \trī-ˈbäl-ə-jē, trib-ˈäl-\

plural tri·bol·o·gies

Definition of TRIBOLOGY

: a branch of mechanical engineering that deals with the design, friction, wear, and lubrication of interacting surfaces (as bodily joints) in relative motion

—tri·bo·log·i·cal \ˌtrī-bə-ˈläj-i-kəl, ˌtrib-ə-\ adjective