ABRASIVE

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does abrasive mean? 

• ABRASIVE (noun)
  The noun ABRASIVE has 1 sense:

1. a substance that abrades or wears down

  Familiarity information: ABRASIVE used as a noun is very rare.

• ABRASIVE (adjective)
  The adjective ABRASIVE has 2 senses:

1. causing abrasion
2. sharply disagreeable; rigorous

  Familiarity information: ABRASIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ABRASIVE (noun)

Meaning:

A substance that abrades or wears down

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

abradant; abrasive; abrasive material

Hypernyms ("abrasive" is a kind of...):

material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "abrasive"):

carborundum (an abrasive composed of silicon carbide crystals)

steel wool; wire wool (a mass of woven steel fibers used as an abrasive)

emery cloth (cloth covered with powdered emery)

emery paper; sandpaper (stiff paper coated with powdered emery or sand)

• ABRASIVE (adjective)

Meaning:

Causing abrasion

Synonyms:

abrasive; scratchy

Similar:

rough; unsmooth (having or caused by an irregular surface)

Meaning:

Sharply disagreeable; rigorous

Synonyms:

abrasive; harsh

Context examples:

the harsh facts of court delays / an abrasive character

Similar:

disagreeable (not to your liking)