Wear (Tribology)
“In materials science, wear is erosion or sideways displacement of material from it´s "derivative" and original position on a solid surface performed by the action of another surface.”
“Wear is related to interactions between surfaces and more specifically the removal and deformation of material on a surface as a result of mechanical action of the opposite surface. The need for relative motion between two surfaces and initial mechanical contact between asperities is an important distinction between mechanical wear compared to other processes with similar outcomes.”
“The definition of wear may include loss of dimension from plastic deformation if it´s originated at the interface between two sliding surfaces.”
Tribology
“The tribological interactions of a solid surface's exposed face with interfacing materials and environment may result in loss of material from the surface. The process leading to loss of material is known as "wear". Major types of wear include abrasion, friction (adhesion and cohesion), erosion, and corrosion. Wear can be minimized by modifying the surface properties of solids by one or more of "surface engineering" processes (also called surface finishing) or by use of lubricants (for frictional or adhesive wear).” (Wikipedia, Tribology, 4/23/2011)