Dictionary

friction en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [ˈfɹʷɪkʃən] ~ [ˈfɹʷɪkʃn̩]
• /ˈfɹɪkʃən/

Etymology

From Middle French friction and directly from Latin frictionem, nom. frictio (“a rubbing, rubbing down”).

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The rubbing of one object or surface against another.
   • Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:
2. (uncountable, usually) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact.
   • Secondly, When a body is once in motion it will continue to move forever, unless something stops it. When a ball is struck on the surface of the earth, the friction of the earth and the resistance of the air soon stop its motion. 1839, Denison Olmsted, A Compendium of Astronomy, page 95:
3. (countable, obsolete, usually) A massage of the body to restore circulation.
   • The frictions are made at bedtime, on a limited portion of the body, and on one side only—the calf of the leg by preference, or the thigh, groin, or axilla. It is enough to continue rubbing for from three to five minutes at most. 1874 January 7, M. Panas, “Treatment of Syphilis by Mercurial Friction”, in The London Medical Record, volume 1, page 5:
   • The frictions should at first be very gentle, and performed with a view to restore heat, and not to force the blood towards the heart, which in drowned persons is already too much distended with it. 1792, James Curry, Observations on Apparent Death from Drowning, Suffocation:
4. (figuratively, uncountable, usually) Conflict, as between persons having dissimilar ideas or interests; clash.
   • Thais have been watching for signs of friction between the armed forces and the monarchy—the country's two biggest sources of political power—since the death in October of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Vajiralongkorn's long-reigning father. 2017 January 14, “Thailand's new king rejects the army's proposed constitution”, in The Economist:
   • Once finances are stabilised, getting Crossrail finished is Byford's most obvious task. Late and over budget, it is causing unwanted headlines and friction between the London Mayor and the Department for Transport that both sides would rather live without. 2020 December 2, Andy Byford talks to Paul Clifton, “I enjoy really big challenges...”, in Rail, page 52:
5. (uncountable, usually) Any obstacle or hindrance that makes a system less convenient or desirable to use.
   • Users have reported friction from having to enter their passwords many times a day.
6. (China, historical, uncountable, usually) Conflict during the Second Sino-Japanese War, as between the Communists and non-hanjian Kuomintang forces.

Forms

Deriveds

friction pile · nanofriction · interfriction · coefficient of friction · sticktion · stiction · frictionproof · friction burn · friction drum · friction clutch · dynamic friction · nonfriction · Darcy friction factor · kinetic friction · friction hitch · antifriction · static friction · frictionally · frictionize · frictionless · frictiony · frictionite · friction match · frictional · iliotibial band friction syndrome · friction tape · underfriction

Relateds

affricate · fricative · tribology · dentifrice · frictious · fray · frictive · frictional · lubrication

Translations (151)

it attrito ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ja 不和 (conflict) · is núningskraftur ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · fi kitka ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · th การสี (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ka ხახუნის ძალა ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ka ხახუნი (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · nl conflict (conflict) · it attrito (conflict) · nl frictie (conflict) · de Reibung ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · az sürtünmə qüvvəsi ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · grc τρῖψις (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · az sürtünmə (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · fi kitka (conflict) · ja 摩擦 ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · te ఘర్షణ (conflict) · sv friktion ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · it dissenso (conflict) · fr friction (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · fr frottement (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · nl geschil (conflict) · ms pergeseran (conflict) · fr friction ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ta உராய்வு ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · it divergenza (conflict) · ml ഘർഷണം ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ru разногла́сия (conflict) · it frizione (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ro dezacord (conflict) · ar اِحْتِكَاك (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · vi ma sát ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · nl frictie ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · fr désaccord (conflict) · nl onenigheid (conflict) · pdt Riewunk (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · th แรงเสียดทาน ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · tr sürtünme (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · hy տարաձայնություն (conflict) · uk тертя́ (conflict) · ru си́ла тре́ния ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · sw ugomvi (conflict) · nl wrijving ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · gl fricción (conflict) · kmr lêkxişandin ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · bg триене ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ro divergență (conflict) · ml ഉരസൽ (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · sv friktion (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · fi hankaus (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · gl fricción (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · sh frìkcija ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ru тре́ние (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ro fricțiune (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · is núningur ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · tl kiskis (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ka კონფლიქტი (conflict) · is núningsmótstaða ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · hy վեճ (conflict) · th การเสียดสี (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · la frictio (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ro frecare (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · el προστριβές (conflict) · sh trénje (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · it contrasto (conflict) · fr frottement ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · el τριβή ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ru тре́ния (conflict) · id friksi (conflict) · sh trénje (conflict) · hi रगड़ (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · sip དཀྲུགས (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ms geseran ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · hu súrlódás (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ro neînțelegere (conflict) · nl wrijving (conflict) · mt frizzjoni (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · da friktion ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · aig twiti (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ta உரசல் (conflict) · nl wrijving (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · it attrito (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ko 마찰 (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · nb friksjon (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · nn friksjon ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · hy շփում (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · mi waku ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · sh frìkcija (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · is núningur (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · cmn 摩擦 ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · hi संघर्ष (conflict) · mt frizzjoni ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · uk тертя́ ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · sh frìkcija (conflict) · fi erimielisyys (conflict) · bg търкане (conflict) · gl fricción ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · uk тертя́ (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · cmn 摩擦 (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · bg разногласие (conflict) · de Reiberei (conflict) · nn friksjon (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · txb kāntalñe (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · pt fricção (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · pt atrito ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ka ჭიდილი (conflict) · sw mkwaruzano (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · cs tření ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · pl tarcie ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · el τριβή (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · te ఘర్షణ (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ka ხახუნი ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ro fricțiune ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ca fricció (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · hi घर्षण ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · tl kiskis ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · hy բախում (conflict) · cmn 摩擦 (conflict) · sh trénje ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · as ঘঁহনি (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · sv friktion (conflict) · nb friksjon ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · hi घर्षण (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · is núningur (conflict) · fi konflikti (conflict) · es fricción (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ka უთანხმოება (conflict) · ta உராய்வு (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · hy շփման ուժ ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · pt atrito (conflict) · gd eas-aonta (conflict) · id gesekan (conflict) · sw mapigano (conflict) · gu ઘસારો ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ms pergeseran (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · de Friktion (conflict) · ca fricció ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · bg тъ́ркане (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · tr sürtüşme (conflict) · tr sürtünme ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · cs tření (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · oc friccion (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · bg триене (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ka ხეხვა (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ms perselisihan (conflict) · id gesekan ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · de Reibung (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · io friciono (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · ro frecare ((physics) A force that resists the relative motion or tendency to such motion of two bodies in contact) · ja 摩擦 (The rubbing of one object or surface against another) · pl tarcie (The rubbing of one object or surface against another)