Abstract: The profiled surface is used as an abradable (1) in flow machines. In these machines blade tips (2) move over the profiled abradable in a predetermined direction (v). In so doing they produce a partial surface, an abraded surface (10), which is formed by material ablation. The profiling of the surface is formed by ribs (15) which surround chamber-like depressions (11). A rib direction can in each case be associated with the ribs. The abradable (1) forms a pattern which is built up of strip-like elements (5) and the elements of which lie in the directions of the ribs on connection lines (45) between corner points (41, 42; 43, 44) of a reference grid (40). Largely at each location of the abraded surface (10)—i.e. at least at more than 80 - 95% of the abraded surface—the rib direction differs from the direction of movement (v) of the blade tips (2).