reibende

Reibende is the present participle of the German verb reiben, meaning to rub or to rub off. In standard usage it functions mainly as an adjective or as part of compound noun phrases, and not as a standalone noun. It describes objects or processes characterized by rubbing or friction. For example, reibende Oberflächen refers to surfaces that rub against each other, while reibende Kräfte denotes frictional forces.

Etymology and form: Derived from reiben with the suffix -de forming a present participle, reibende agrees with the noun it modifies (e.g., die reibenden Oberflächen). In technical language, the related noun Reibung (friction) or Reibungskräfte is more common; reibende as a pure noun is rare and would typically be understood from context as the actors or agents of rubbing if used that way.

Usage and contexts: The term appears in physics, engineering, materials science, and crafts when describing rubbing actions or frictional phenomena. Common phrases include reibende Oberflächen (surfaces in rubbing contact) and reibende Kräfte (frictional forces). Example: Die reibenden Oberflächen erzeugen Wärme durch Reibung. More general usage would prefer Reibung or Reibungskräfte for clarity.

See also: Reibung; Reibungskraft; Reibfläche; Reibungskoeffizient.