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Webster 1913 Edition


Traction

Trac′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
trahere
,
tractum
, to draw: cf. F.
traction
.]
1.
The act of drawing, or the state of being drawn;
as, the
traction
of a muscle
.
2.
Specifically, the act of drawing a body along a plane by motive power, as the drawing of a carriage by men or horses, the towing of a boat by a tug.
3.
Attraction; a drawing toward.
[R.]
Angle of traction
(Mech.)
,
the angle made with a given plane by the line of direction in which a tractive force acts.
Traction engine
,
a locomotive for drawing vehicles on highways or in the fields.

Webster 1828 Edition


Traction

TRAC'TION

,
Noun.
[L. tractus, traho.] The act of drawing, or state of being drawn; as the traction of a muscle.
1.
Attraction; a drawing towards.

Definition 2024


traction

traction

English

Noun

traction (usually uncountable, plural tractions)

  1. The act of pulling something along a surface using motive power.
  2. the condition of being so pulled.
  3. Grip.
  4. The pulling power of an engine or animal.
  5. The adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface.
  6. (medicine) A mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb.
  7. (transport) Collectively, the locomotives of a railroad, especially electric locomotives.
  8. (usually after forms of get or have) Progress in or momentum toward achieving a goal.
    1. (business) The extent of adoption of a new product or service, typically measured in number of customers or level of revenue achieved.
    2. (politics) Popular support.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

traction (third-person singular simple present tractions, present participle tractioning, simple past and past participle tractioned)

  1. (medicine, transitive) To apply a sustained pull to (a limb, etc.).