abrasive (əˈbreɪsɪv)

—n
1.	a substance or material such as sandpaper, pumice, or emery, used for cleaning, grinding, smoothing, or polishing

—*adj*
2.	causing abrasion; grating; rough
3.	irritating in manner or personality; causing tension or annoyance

a'brasiveness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Word Origin & History

abrasive

1853, n., "an abrasive substance," from L. abrasus, pp. of abradere (see abrasion); the adj. is attested from 1875; fig. sense of "tending to provoke anger" is first recorded 1925.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

¹abra·sive definition

Pronunciation: /ə-ˈbrā-siv, -ziv/
Function: adj
: tending to abrade <an abrasive substance>
abra·sive·nessFunction: n

²abrasive definition

Function: n
: a substance (as emery or pumice) used for abrading, smoothing, or polishing called also abradant

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2007 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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abrasive a·bra·sive (ə-brā'sĭv, -zĭv)
adj.
Causing abrasion. n.
A material used to produce abrasion.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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