Definition of ATTRITION

attrition

Plural: attritions

Noun

  • erosion by friction
  • the wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice
  • sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation
  • a wearing down to weaken or destroy
    • "a war of attrition"
  • the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction
  • Grinding down or wearing away by friction.
  • Grinding down or wearing away by friction.
  • The wearing of teeth due to their grinding.
  • A gradual reduction in number.
  • A gradual reduction in number.
  • A gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through injury, incapacitation, retirement, resignation, or death.
  • A gradual reduction in number.
  • The loss of participants during an experiment.
  • A gradual reduction in number.
  • The loss of a first or second language or a portion of that language.
  • Imperfect contrition or remorse.

Verb

  • To grind or wear down through friction.
  • To reduce the number of (jobs or workers) by not hiring new employees to fill positions that become vacant (often with out).
  • To undergo a reduction in number.

Examples

  • attritioned teeth; attritioned rock
  • The cohort of one hundred students had attritioned to sixty by the end of secondary school.

Origin / Etymology

15th century, from Middle English attricion, attricioun, from Middle French attricion, attrition and its etymon, Latin attrītiō (“a rubbing against”), from the verb attrītus, past participle of atterō (“to wear”), from ad- (“to, towards”) + terō (“to rub”). By surface analysis, attrit + -ion.

Antonyms

accretion

Scrabble Score: 9

attrition: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
attrition: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
attrition: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

attrition: valid Words With Friends Word