Material used for grinding, sanding, polishing or the wearing away of another material. Aluminum oxide, garnet and silicon-based compounds are commonly used as abrasives for sanding and smoothing wood.
Abrasive cleaning stick
The abrasive cleaning stick adds long life to abrasive belts and paper.
Abrasive flapper
Strips of material impregnated with an abrasive that are attached to a hub with a shank. When the shank is inserted into the chuck of a power drill, the spinning strips can be used to sand irregular surfaces.
Abrasive pad
Abrasive stones
Grinding stones used to sharpen metal blades. The blades are either rubbed along the stone or the stone is spun and the metal held against it, wearing down the metal and creating a sharp edge.
Abrasive wheel
Non-metallic disc that is impregnated with an abrasive, such as Carborundum and used in a power saw to cut masonry and metal.
Abreuvoir
Mortar joint between stones in a stone structure.
Absentee owner
Landlord who lives elsewhere.
Absolute
Value that won't change when other factors change, such as a constant in a mathematical equation. Something that is free from imperfection. Unconditional, without restriction, such as the power of a dictator. An exact amount.
Absolute humidity
The ratio of the mass of water vapor to the volume occupied by a mixture of water vapor and dry air.
