Which term describes when rocks and pebbles erode material from the banks and bed by wearing them away?

The term that accurately describes the process of rocks and pebbles eroding material from the banks and bed of a river by wearing them away is abrasion. This process involves the physical wearing down of surface materials due to the friction created as sediment and rocks are transported by flowing water. As these particles collide with each other and with the river's banks and bed, they effectively scrape and wear away the surfaces they come into contact with, leading to the gradual erosion of those materials.

In the context of river dynamics, this distinction is essential. Abrasion is a specific type of erosion that highlights the mechanical action of moving sediments, differentiating it from other processes like corrosion, which involves chemical processes that dissolve materials, and attrition, which specifically refers to the wearing down of individual particles rather than the surfaces they interact with. Hence, knowing the correct terminology helps in understanding the various processes of river erosion and sediment transport.