Antiattrition
adj, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A (usually lead or graphite-based) substance applied to machine parts in order to reduce friction; lubricant.
"The remaining peroxide of iron is separated, by washing, into two parts: that which is in the finest powder, being dried and mixed with grease, is used as an antiattrition for machinery, and answers the purpose well; the coarser powder is made into small pellets, dried and treated as iron ore."
- 2 Something or someone that smooths the way or makes things easier. figuratively
"The prisons of France are now full of baronets and commoners from England, who long were a credit to their country, but who find no mercy from French tradesmen; par example, the antiattrition baronet, and a certain titled Greek scholar, bear testimony of the truth hereof; and Mr. D. might well be frightened out of a year's growth, when he looked round him and saw the fate of his countrymen; for it is an undeniable truth, that he who has been extravagant at home will never be prudent abroad; so that is the only way of escaping a French prison, with an unlimited term of confinement, is voluntarily to submit to limited abridgment of liberty at home."
- 1 Countering the effects of friction in machinery. not-comparable
"The friction of the axle-trees of these machines may be considerably diminished, by applying an improved axle-tree invented by Mr. Gottlieb, which he calls the anti-attrition axle-tree, and for which he has a patent."
- 2 Minimizing attrition; serving to retain or recover participants, customers, members, or similar. not-comparable
"The present value of the antiattrition program, discounted at 5 percent per year to the first grade is only $690, while the present value of preventing attrition in high school by expenditures in elementary school is $1065."
Example
More examples"The friction of the axle-trees of these machines may be considerably diminished, by applying an improved axle-tree invented by Mr. Gottlieb, which he calls the anti-attrition axle-tree, and for which he has a patent."
Etymology
From anti- + attrition.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.