Abrasive
/əˈbreɪsɪv/
adjectivenounB2
Definition
Abrasive means having a rough surface that can rub and wear down other materials. It also describes a way of speaking or behaving that is sharp, harsh, or unpleasant, which can hurt feelings or seem rude. As a noun, abrasives are things like sandpaper used to clean or smooth surfaces by rubbing.
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See It in Action
Rough or harsh in physical texture
- •The abrasive surface of the sandpaper removed the paint.
- •Be careful with abrasive materials because they can scratch the glass.
- •The rock had an abrasive texture that felt rough to touch.
Harsh or rude in behavior or speech
- •His abrasive tone made it hard to have a friendly conversation.
- •She was known for her abrasive manner that sometimes upset people.
- •The manager’s abrasive comments hurt the employees’ feelings.
(Noun) A material used for rubbing to clean or smooth surfaces
- •The worker used an abrasive to polish the metal.
- •Sand is a natural abrasive.
- •Different abrasives are used depending on the surface you want to clean.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "abrasive" like "rough" (A1 word), but not just feeling rough—also can mean being harsh in how someone talks or acts
- ✓Picture sandpaper rubbing on wood, making the wood smooth but also scraping it a little
- ✓It's the feeling when someone talks sharply and it feels like a small sting or scratch on your feelings
- ✓Sounds like "a-BRAY-sive" → imagine a "brave" rock rubbing strongly against something to clean or hurt it
- ✓Think of a rough stone or a sharp voice that can scrape or hurt gently but clearly
- ✓NOT like "soft" (smooth and gentle), abrasive is the opposite—rough or harsh
- ✓NOT like "polite" (kind and gentle), abrasive behavior can seem rude or hurtful
- ✓As a noun, NOT like "cloth" (soft), abrasive is rough material used to clean or smooth by rubbing
Try Other Words
- •Harsh: very strong or unpleasant, often about behavior or sound (Use when talking about behavior or tone that is severe or unfriendly)
- •Coarse: rough or not smooth, often about texture (Use when describing physical surfaces or materials)
- •Rude: impolite or offensive in behavior (Use when describing unpleasant behavior or speech)
- •Gritty: containing small hard particles, rough (Use when describing physical texture similar to sand or small stones)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "a-" (to, toward) + root "brasive" from Latin "radere" meaning to scrape or shave
- •Etymology: From Latin "abradere" meaning to scrape off or rub away
- •Historical development: First used in English in the 1600s to describe materials that scrape or wear down surfaces
- •Modern usage: Used to describe rough materials and also harsh or unpleasant behavior or speech
- •Interesting fact: The word can describe both physical surfaces and personality or speech styles
Reflect & Connect
•Can a person’s abrasive behavior ever be helpful or necessary? When?
•How do you feel when someone uses an abrasive tone with you? How do you respond?
Fill in the blanks
1.The abrasive surface of the stone caused ___ to the smooth table top when it was rubbed too hard.
2.When someone speaks in an abrasive way, it often makes others feel ___ or uncomfortable.
3.Unlike soft fabrics, abrasive materials ___ the surface they touch by rubbing strongly.
4.She used an abrasive cleaner to ___ the old paint from the wall.
5.His abrasive manner made it difficult for him to ___ friends easily.
6.Abrasive materials like sandpaper are ___ for smoothing rough wood.
7.If a person's tone is abrasive, it usually ___ a negative reaction from listeners.