abträgt

Abträgt is a conjugated form of the German verb abtragen, specifically the third-person singular present tense: er trägt ab. The verb consists of the separable prefix ab- and the verb tragen (to carry). In sentences, the prefix is separated from the stem in the finite form, so you hear or see abtragen as "trägt ab" rather than a continuous unit.

Meaning and usage

Abtragen has several related meanings centered on removing or carrying away material or substance. The primary sense is physical removal of material from a surface or bulk, often by abrasion, erosion, or mechanical work. Examples include soil or rock being worn away by wind or water, metal or concrete becoming thinner through friction, or a layer of material being stripped during a repair or construction project. In this sense, abgetragenes Material describes what has been removed.

The term also appears in contexts such as mining or excavation to denote the extraction of ore or rock from a deposit, as well as in maintenance where waste or debris is carried off the working site. In less common, more technical uses, abtragen can refer to reducing quantities, for example in processes that diminish a stock or a structural element, though more everyday German would often use abziehen or abbauen for similar ideas.

Noun form and related terms

The related noun is Abtragung, referring to the process or result of removing material. Related terms include Verschleiß (wear), Abtragung von Lasten (removal of loads) and Materialabtragung (material removal). In practice, abtragen is widely used in technical, manufacturing, and scientific contexts; in everyday language, speakers may prefer verbs such as entfernen, abnehmen, or abbauen depending on the situation.

Grammatical notes

Abtragen is a separable verb. In the present tense, the prefix splits: er trägt ab, sie trägt ab. The perfect tense uses hat abgetragen. The noun form Abtragung is feminine: die Abtragung.