1. (a.) Made less harsh or burdensome; alleviated.

2. (v. t.) To make smooth in various senses

3. (v. t.) To free from grit; to reduce to an impalpable powder or paste.

4. (v. t.) To mix thoroughly, as liquids or semiliquids.

5. (v. t.) To polish.

6. (v. t.) To make smooth in action.

7. (v. t.) Technically, to make smooth by rubbing in a moist condition between hard surfaces, as in grinding pigments.

8. (a.) Made smooth, as if polished.

abate ablate abrase abstract atomize bark bate beat blemish bloody bother bray break brecciate bug burn chafe check chip claw comminute confuse contriturate corrode crack craze crumb crumble crush curtail cut decrease deduct depreciate derogate detract diminish disintegrate disorganize disparage distract disturb drain eat away erase erode excoriate exercise extract file file away flour fracture fragment fray frazzle fret gall gash gnaw gnaw away grain granulate granulize grate graze grind grind to powder hurt impair incise injure irk lacerate leach lessen levigate maim make mincemeat of mash maul mill mutilate perturb pestle pierce pound powder provoke pulverize puncture purify rasp raze reduce reduce to powder refine remove rend retrench rip rub rub away rub off rub out ruffle run rupture savage scald scorch scotch scour scrape scratch scrub scrunch scuff shard shorten shred skin slash slit smash sprain squash stab stick strain subduct subtract take away take from tatter tear thin thin out traumatize triturate wear wear away wear down wear off wear out wear ragged weather weed withdraw wound wrench