Friction

Pronunciation

/ˈfrɪkʃən/

Definitions

Noun (n)

• The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another due to their roughness or adhesion. It’s a force that opposes motion between two bodies in contact. For example: “The car’s tires had good grip on the road because of the sufficient friction.”
  • Friction can also refer to the resistance to motion or progress caused by opposition, disagreement, or difficulty. For instance: “There has been considerable friction between management and employees over the new policies.”

Verb (v)

• (Less commonly) To rub against something else causing friction. Example: “The machine frictions against the belt, causing wear and tear over time.”

Phrases

• “Static friction” refers to the force that keeps an object stationary when a force is applied to it.
• “Kinetic friction” is the frictional force acting on an object already in motion.
• “Reduce friction” is often used metaphorically to mean making a process smoother or less contentious.

Example Sentences

• Noun (physical force): “The coefficient of friction between the rubber sole of shoes and the gym floor helps prevent slipping.”
• Noun (metaphorical use): “Efforts were made to reduce bureaucratic friction within the organization to increase efficiency.”

Synonyms

• Resistance
• Rubbing
• Strife (in the context of interpersonal or organizational conflict)
• Tension (in the metaphorical sense)
• Adhesion (specifically referring to molecular forces)
• Grip (when discussing traction)

Note: There isn’t a verb form of “friction” commonly used to describe the action of creating friction; instead, verbs like “rub,” “scrape,” or “grate” are typically used in those cases.