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   A·bra·sive

   /əˈbrāsiv/

   

   adjective

   • 1. (of a substance or material) capable of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding: "the wood should be rubbed down with fine abrasive paper" Similar grindingrubbingpolishingcoarsecoarse-grainedcausticharshmordantcorrosivecorrodingerosiveeroding
   • ▪ tending to rub or graze the skin: "the trees were abrasive to the touch"
   • 2. (of a person or manner) showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh: "her abrasive and arrogant personal style won her few friends" Similar causticcuttinggratingbitingacerbicvitriolicroughharshhardtoughsharpcurtbrusquesternseverewoundingnastycruelcallousinsensitiveunfeelingunsympatheticinconsiderateacerbOpposite kindgentle

   noun

   • 1. a substance used for grinding, polishing, or cleaning a hard surface: "the refrigerator is easily damaged by abrasives"

   Word Origin early 17th century: from Latin abras- ‘abraded’, from the verb abradere (see abrade) + -ive.

   Derivatives

   • 1. abrasively adverb
   • 2. abrasiveness noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • A

     1

   • B

     3

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

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