friction

fric·tion

noun \ˈfrik-shən\

Definition of FRICTION

1

a : the rubbing of one body against another b : the force that resists relative motion between two bodies in contact

2

: the clashing between two persons or parties of opposed views : disagreement

3

: sound produced by the movement of air through a narrow constriction in the mouth or glottis

— fric·tion·less \-ləs\ adjective

— fric·tion·less·ly adverb

Examples of FRICTION

1. the friction of sandpaper on wood
2. Oil in a car engine reduces friction.
3. It was difficult to reach an agreement because of the friction between the two sides.

Origin of FRICTION

earlier, therapeutic rubbing of the limbs, from Middle French, from Latin friction-, frictio, from fricare to rub; akin to Latin friare to crumble, and perhaps to Sanskrit bhrīṇanti they injure

First Known Use: 1704

Related to FRICTION

Synonyms: conflict, disaccord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, division, discord, infighting, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, war, warfare

Antonyms: accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, peace

Related Words: clash, collision, competition, contention; altercation, argument, bicker, brawl, debate, disagreement, dispute, divide, fissure; falling-out, fight, hassle, jar, miff, mix-up, quarrel, row, run-in, scrap, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle; incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, inconsistence, inconsistency, inconsonance, inharmoniousness; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, cold war, enmity, hostility, ill will, rancor

Near Antonyms: concurrence, cooperation

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Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

Rhymes with FRICTION

diction, fiction, stiction