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tract

[ trakt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an expanse or area of land, water, etc.; region; stretch.
Synonyms: ,
Anatomy.
1. a definite region or area of the body, especially a group, series, or system of related parts or organs:
  the digestive tract.
2. a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin and destination.
a stretch or period of time; interval; lapse.
Roman Catholic Church. an anthem consisting of verses of Scripture, sung after the gradual in the Mass from Septuagesima until the day before Easter and on certain other occasions, taking the place of the alleluias and the verse that ordinarily accompany the gradual.
Ornithology. a pteryla.

tract

[ trakt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a brief treatise or pamphlet for general distribution, usually on a religious or political topic.
Synonyms: , ,

tract

/ �ٰ�æ�� /

noun

an extended area, as of land
anatomy a system of organs, glands, or other tissues that has a particular function
the digestive tract
a bundle of nerve fibres having the same function, origin, and termination
the optic tract
archaic.
an extended period of time

tract

/ �ٰ�æ�� /

noun

a treatise or pamphlet, esp a religious or moralistic one

tract

/ �ٰ�æ�� /

noun

RC Church an anthem in some Masses

tract

A series of body organs that work together to perform a specialized function, such as digestion.
A bundle of nerve fibers, especially in the central nervous system, that begin and end in the same place and share a common function.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of tract¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; (in senses referring to extent of space) from Latin tractus “stretch (of space or time), a drawing out,” equivalent to trac-, variant stem of trahere “to draw” + -tus suffix of verbal action; tract ¹def 4 is from Medieval Latin tractus, apparently identical with the above, though literal sense unexplained

Origin of tract²

1400–50; late Middle English tracte, apparently shortening of Medieval Latin �ٰ��ٳܲ� tractate

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Word History and Origins

Origin of tract¹

C15: from Latin tractus a stretching out, from trahere to drag

Origin of tract²

C15: from Latin �ٰ��ٳܲ� tractate

Origin of tract³

C14: from Medieval Latin tractus cantus extended song; see tract ¹

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

This allows her heart to deflate, allowing the "very tricky" procedure to detach part of her heart - the right ventricular outflow tract - and the pulmonary artery from where it has stuck to her skin.

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Pope Francis died Monday in Rome at the age of 88, just weeks after he was released from hospital following a respiratory tract infection that developed into pneumonia.

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It's already approved in the US for treating urinary tract infections.

From

Its territory, which sits astride the equator, encompasses some of the most biodiverse tracts of the Congo Basin rainforest.

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Large tracts are held in public ownership, but significant sections are privately-owned farmland.

From

Related Words

trackway tractable

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