abrasive (plural abrasives) A hard inorganic substance or material consisting in powder or granule form such as sandpaper, pumice, or emery, used for cleaning, smoothing, or polishing.

An abrasive is a material, often a mineral, that is used to shape or finish a workpiece through rubbing which leads to part of the workpiece being worn away by friction.

abrasive (əˈbreɪsɪv) n a substance or material such as sandpaper, pumice, or emery, used for cleaning, grinding, smoothing, or polishing

/əˈbreɪsɪv/ a substance used for cleaning surfaces or for making them smooth

Deriving its name from the Latin word ‘abradere’, meaning “to scrape off”, abrasives work through a meticulous mechanism. The act of abrasion usually involves a harder substance known as an abrasive, which wears down the surface of a softer material.