desgasta

Desgasta is the present indicative third-person singular form of the Spanish verb desgastar, meaning to wear down, erode, or exhaust something through use, friction, or chemical action. It describes the process by which a material loses mass, thickness, or sharpness over time and can be used both literally for physical wear and figuratively for the depletion of resources or energy.

Etymology: Desgastar is formed with the prefix des- added to gastar, the latter meaning to spend, expend, or wear away. The combination conveys a sense of reduction or diminishment of a material or attribute.

Usage: In engineering and maintenance, desgasta is used to describe wear on components, surfaces, or tools. For example, “La pieza desgasta con el uso.” The related noun desgaste denotes wear itself, as in “el desgaste de las pastillas” or “desgaste por fricción.” Desgaste can be described as gradual or, in some cases, premature (desgaste prematuro) due to factors such as lubrication, loading, or material defects.

Conjugation note: As an -ar verb, its present indicative forms include yo desgasto, tú desgastas, él desgasta, nosotros desgastamos, vosotros desgastáis, ellos desgastan. Desgasta also appears as the affirmative tú command in appropriate contexts.

See also: desgaste, fricción, erosión, desgaste por fricción, fatiga de materiales.