English Meaning & Definitions
The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.
- “The brakes work by using friction to slow down the rotation of the wheels.”
- “Oil is used in engines to reduce friction between moving parts.”
Conflict or animosity caused by a clash of wills, temperaments, or opinions.
- “There was a lot of friction between the two departments regarding the new budget.”
- “The friction in their relationship eventually led to a permanent separation.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “friction”.
Derived from the Latin 'frictio', meaning 'a rubbing', which comes from the verb 'fricare' (to rub). It entered Middle English via Old French in the 16th century, originally used in a medical context to describe the act of rubbing the body, before evolving into its current physical and metaphorical meanings.
Think of 'friction' as 'fric-tion'—like 'fric-assee' (rubbing ingredients together) or the sound of 'friction' matching the sound of rubbing your hands together.
Frequently Asked Questions About “friction”
1. What is the meaning of “friction” in English?
In English, friction (noun) is defined as: “The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.”.
2. How do you use “friction” in a sentence?
“The brakes work by using friction to slow down the rotation of the wheels.”
3. What are English synonyms of “friction”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “friction”?
Derived from the Latin 'frictio', meaning 'a rubbing', which comes from the verb 'fricare' (to rub). It entered Middle English via Old French in the 16th century, originally used in a medical context to describe the act of rubbing the body, before evolving into its current physical and metaphorical meanings.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.