# abrasion

/əˈbɹeɪʒən/ (US) · /ɐbɹˈeɪʒən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abrasion
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a thin layer of rock or soil that is worn away by wind, water, or ice. In medicine, it also means a small scrape on the skin.

For teachers: the process of wearing away rock or soil through mechanical action; also refers to a superficial scrape or scratch on the skin.

## Examples

- The wind caused a thin layer of abrasion on the stone.
- Geologists studied the abrasion of the canyon walls to understand how the river shaped the landscape over thousands of years.
- While the outer layer of the rock was smoothed by centuries of abrasion, the inner core remained jagged and resistant to the relentless forces of erosion.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.