From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishwear away phrasal verbDAMAGEto gradually become thinner or smoother, or to make something become like this, because of rubbing or touching The leather is starting to wear away at the seams.wear something ↔ away Most of the grass had already been worn away by the spectators. → wear→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
wear away• Tiem and weather had worn away any forensic evidence.• The leather also still looks good, although I've notices it wearing away at the top of the ankle seam.• The cathedral steps were getting worn away by the feet of thousands of visitors.• They can be worn away by wind or water.• That wearing away can not be halted.• Environmentalists are concerned that rock climbers are wearing the crags away in some places.• The action of the sea is constantly wearing away the cliff face.• He had finished his piece over an hour ago and the night was wearing away towards dawn.• Feeling physically weak or out of shape also wears away your sense of personal efficacy. 