Word
abrade
US/æˈbɹeɪd/
UK/ɐbɹˈeɪd/
Definition
v. to wear away a surface by rubbing it against something rough. It can also mean to hurt someone's feelings by being too harsh or rude.
v. to wear away or erode a surface through friction; to cause physical damage or mental distress through harsh treatment. Often used in technical contexts regarding materials or in literary contexts regarding social interactions.
Examples
“The rough stones abrade the skin of the hikers.”
“The constant friction of the river current abrades the smooth rock into smaller pebbles over time.”
“The critic's scathing review abrade the young artist's confidence, leaving him questioning whether his work was truly worth the public's attention.”
Examples
simple
“The rough stones abrade the skin of the hikers.”
contextual
“The constant friction of the river current abrades the smooth rock into smaller pebbles over time.”
complex
“The critic's scathing review abrade the young artist's confidence, leaving him questioning whether his work was truly worth the public's attention.”
Etymology
From Latin abrādō (“scrape off”), from ab (“from, away from”) + rādō (“scrape”). First attested in 1677.
From Middle English abraiden. See abraid.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/abrade