1. A wearing down to weaken or destroy
   "a war of attrition"
    
2. Erosion by friction
   "The constant flow of water caused attrition on the riverbed rocks";
   - abrasion, corrasion, detrition
    
3. The act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction
   "The attrition of the stone steps over centuries had made them dangerously smooth"
    
4. The wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water, wind or ice
   "The smooth pebbles on the beach were shaped by years of attrition action from the waves";
   - grinding, abrasion, detrition
    
5. Sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation
   "The priest spoke of attrition versus true repentance";
   - contrition, contriteness

Derived forms: attritions

Type of: decrease, degradation, detrition, drop-off, eating away, eroding, erosion, friction, lessening, regret, rubbing, rue [archaic], ruefulness, sorrow, wearing, wearing away

Encyclopedia: Attrition