| attrition | 1. The act of rubbing together; friction; the act of wearing by friction, or by rubbing substances together; abrasion. "Effected by attrition of the inward stomach." (Arbuthnot) 2. The state of being worn. 3. Grief for sin arising only from fear of punishment or feelings of shame. See Contrition. Origin: L. Attritio: cf. F. Attrition. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| tooth attrition | The wearing away of a tooth as a result of tooth-to-tooth contact, as in mastication, occurring only on the occlusal, incisal, and proximal surfaces. It is chiefly associated with aging. It is differentiated from tooth abrasion (the pathologic wearing away of the tooth substance by friction, as brushing, bruxism, clenching, and other mechanical causes) and from tooth erosion (the loss of substance caused by chemical action without bacterial action). (12 Dec 1998) |
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