WordWeb Online

1. Erosion by friction
   - abrasion, corrasion, detrition
    
2. The wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice
   - grinding, abrasion, detrition
    
3. Sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation
   - contrition, contriteness
    
4. A wearing down to weaken or destroy
   "a war of attrition"
    
5. The act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction

Derived forms: attritions

See also: attritional

Type of: decrease, detrition, drop-off, eating away, eroding, erosion, friction, lessening, regret, rubbing, rue [archaic], ruefulness, sorrow, wearing, wearing away

Encyclopedia: Attrition