pitting
Creating small holes
Pitting is the formation of small holes or depressions in a surface.
Metal pits from corrosion; skin pits from acne scars; cherries get pitted when their stones are removed.
The other sense comes from pit as arena: pitting one thing against another means setting them in opposition, as combatants in a ring: The election is pitting neighbor against neighbor.
Small red drupes
- olivesSmall Mediterranean fruits
- peachesFuzzy stone fruit
- plumsFleshy stone fruits
- apricotsSmall orange stone fruit
avocados · dates · nectarines · mangoes · lychees · stoning · canning · preserving
Gradual organic breakdown
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- wearCarry on person
- degradationDecline in condition
breakdown · damage · erosion · disintegration · crumbling · flaking · spalling · chipping
Forming shallow indentations
- pockmarksSmall scarred indentations
- crateringForming impact hollows
- indentationInward cut or setback
- scarringPermanent mark formation
divots · gouging · punctures · nicks · roughness · blemishes · imperfections · unevenness
In opposition to
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- matchupScheduled competitive pairing
- versusIn opposition to
- opposingStanding against something
contestants · adversaries · challenge · face-off · showdown · head-to-head · contenders · opponents
cherries
Small red drupes
apricots · avocados · dates · nectarines · mangoes · lychees · stoning · canning · preserving · coring
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- wearCarry on person
degradation · breakdown · damage · erosion · disintegration · crumbling · flaking · spalling · chipping · cracking
dimpling
Forming shallow indentations
- pockmarksSmall scarred indentations
- crateringForming impact hollows
- indentationInward cut or setback
scarring · divots · gouging · punctures · nicks · roughness · blemishes · imperfections · unevenness · holes
against
In opposition to
opposing · contestants · adversaries · challenge · face-off · showdown · head-to-head · contenders · opponents · duel
rust
Iron oxide coating
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- erosionGradual wearing away
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
galvanic · electrochemical · scaling · chloride · anodic · cathodic · saltwater · crevice · stainless · aluminum
- metal flawscracks, porosity, voids, inclusions, shrinkage
- food prepchopping, slicing, dicing, mincing, peeling
- food processingcanning, freezing, drying, packaging, pasteurization
- frictionfriction, rubbing, abrading, friction burn, rolling friction
- damagebreakage, break, crack, fracture, dent
- defectsdefect, flaw, crack, cracks, defective
pittingsmoothing
Reducing irregularities systematically
polishing · buffing · filling · finishing · resurfacing
pittinguniting
Combining into one
reconciling · allying · bringing together · unifying · joining
- pitting againstCreating direct competition between
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