attrition
[ uh-trish-uh n ]
/ əˈtrɪʃ ən /
noun
a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength: Our club has had a high rate of attrition because so many members have moved away.
a wearing down or weakening of resistance, especially as a result of continuous pressure or harassment: The enemy surrounded the town and conducted a war of attrition.
a gradual reduction in work force without firing of personnel, as when workers resign or retire and are not replaced.
the act of rubbing against something; friction.
a wearing down or away by friction; abrasion.
Origin of attrition
OTHER WORDS FROM attrition
at·tri·tion·al, adjective at·tri·tive [uh-trahy-tiv] /əˈtraɪ tɪv/, adjective in·ter·at·tri·tion, nounWords nearby attrition
attribution,
attribution theory,
attributive,
attrit,
attrite,
attrition,
attu,
attucks,
attucks, crispus,
attune,
atty
Example sentences from the Web for attritional
This was a long, gutsy, attritional game played by two flawed teams who failed to force enough shots on goal.
Argentina Drops the Netherlands on Penalties in World Cup Semifinal |Tunku Varadarajan |July 10, 2014 |DAILY BEASTThe hard, attritional fight comes in holding the ground often relatively cheaply taken.
British Dictionary definitions for attritional
attrition
/ (əˈtrɪʃən) /
noun
the act of wearing away or the state of being worn away, as by friction
constant wearing down to weaken or destroy (often in the phrase war of attrition)
Also called: natural wastage
a decrease in the size of the workforce of an organization achieved by not replacing employees who retire or resign
geography
the grinding down of rock particles by friction during transportation by water, wind, or ice
Compare abrasion (def. 3), corrasion
theol
sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation, esp as contrasted with contrition, which arises purely from love of God
Derived forms of attrition
attritional, adjective attritive (əˈtraɪtɪv), adjectiveWord Origin for attrition
C14: from Late Latin
attrītiō a rubbing against something, from Latin
atterere to weaken, from
terere to rub
Medical definitions for attritional
attrition
[ ə-trĭsh′ən ]
n.
A wearing away by friction or rubbing, such as the loss of tooth structure caused by abrasive foods or grinding of the teeth.