WordGarden.iofrictional
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /frˈɪkʃənəl/
US
- /frˈɪkʃənəl/
Meanings
Adjective
relating to or produced by physical friction between surfaces
involving tension, disagreement, or resistance between people or groups
caused by normal delays or adjustment in a market, especially between jobs
Beyond the definition
Imagine pushing a heavy box across a rough floor. The force that makes it harder to move is friction, and something connected to that effect can be called frictional. The word is mostly used for physical contact between surfaces, especially when that contact slows movement or creates heat. It can also be used in a broader way for situations with steady tension or conflict, where people or ideas do not work together smoothly.
The term "frictional" relates to friction, the resistance that happens when one surface or object moves against another. It is often used in physics and engineering to describe forces, effects, or processes that come from rubbing contact. For example, a car's brakes work through frictional force, and frictional heating happens when movement between surfaces produces heat. In this sense, the word usually points to contact that slows motion, creates drag, or wears material down.
Beyond physical science, "frictional" can also be used in a figurative way for situations marked by tension, disagreement, or lack of smooth cooperation. A frictional relationship, debate, or workplace environment has a sense of strain, as if people are rubbing against each other rather than moving together easily. This use is less technical, but the basic idea is still resistance.
The word also has a specific use in economics: frictional unemployment. This means the temporary period when people are between jobs or are entering the job market and have not yet found the right position. Here, the idea is not literal rubbing but a natural delay in matching workers with jobs. Whether it describes heat in a machine, resistance between moving surfaces, tension between people, or a short gap in employment, "frictional" suggests something that prevents smooth and immediate movement.
Examples
- 1
Physics
Frictional forces inside the engine cause the metal parts to heat up.
- 2
Mechanical wear
The new coating is designed to reduce frictional wear on the drill bit.
- 3
Job changes
A small rise in frictional unemployment is normal when people are changing jobs.
- Domainfrictional unemployment
unemployment caused by the time it takes to move from one job to another
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- frictionaladjective