Abrasive
/əˈbreɪsɪv/
adjectiveBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Definitions
1
Having a rough or harsh surface; tending to scrape or wear away.
/əˈbreɪsɪv/
adjectiveneutralBeginner
General
Rough or grating to the touch.
The rock was abrasive and scratched my skin.
💡 Simply: Something that feels rough when you touch it.
More Examples
2
He used an abrasive cleaner to remove the stain.
How It's Used
Material Science
"Sandpaper is an abrasive material used for polishing."
Personal Description
"Her abrasive personality made it difficult to work with her."
From Old French *abrasyf*, from Latin *abrasīvus* meaning 'rubbing'.
Middle English texts often used 'abrasive' to describe physical textures.
Memory tip
Imagine abrading your finger on a rough surface.
Practice
Base: abrade
abrasiveabbrasive
Usage
30%Spoken
70%Written