detrition
Wearing down gradually
Detrition is the act of wearing away through friction or rubbing.
The term appears in geological and medical contexts—rocks smoothed by detrition against other rocks, teeth worn by detrition from grinding.
It shares territory with abrasion and erosion but emphasizes the rubbing mechanism: detrition of the joint cartilage.
Carry on person
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
- scuffingSurface abrasion from friction
- chafingIrritation from friction
- scratchingRaking with nails
fretting · galling · scouring · grinding · friction · erosion · scraping · rasping
Process of declining quality
- degradationDecline in condition
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
crumbling · wasting · atrophy · decrepitude · senescence · enfeeblement · debilitation · decline
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- degradationDecline in condition
- denudationRemoval of surface covering
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- geologicalOf Earth's physical structure
fluvial · coastal · riverbank · shoreline · rockface · canyon · gully · ravine
wear
Carry on person
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
- scuffingSurface abrasion from friction
- chafingIrritation from friction
scratching · fretting · galling · scouring · grinding · friction · erosion · scraping · rasping · buffing
deterioration
Process of declining quality
- degradationDecline in condition
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
breakdown · crumbling · wasting · atrophy · decrepitude · senescence · enfeeblement · debilitation · decline · degeneration
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- degradationDecline in condition
- denudationRemoval of surface covering
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
geological · fluvial · coastal · riverbank · shoreline · rockface · canyon · gully · ravine · deflation
pulverizing
Breaking into particles
- crushingOverwhelming in intensity
- millingProcessing grain mechanically
- granulatingForming into particles
powdering · atomizing · pounding · mincing · grating · shredding · mortar · pestle · millstone · grist
detritionaccretion
Growth through external addition
accumulation · deposition · buildup · aggregation · sedimentation
detritionaccumulation
Collected mass over time
growth · augmentation · accretion · increase · addition