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

Derived forms: attritions

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

Encyclopedia: Attrition