tract
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (4)tracts
- an extended area of landSynonyms: piece of landpiece of groundparcel of landparcelType of geographical area, geographic areaKinds site, field, battlefield, park, center field, plot, playing field, right field, range, left field +26 more
- a system of body parts that together serve some particular purposeType of systemKinds respiratory tract, urinary tract
- a brief treatise on a subject of interest; published in the form of a bookletSynonyms: pamphletType of treatise
- a bundle of myelinated nerve fibers following a path through the brainSynonyms: nerve pathwaynerve tractpathwayType of white matter, substantia albaKinds commissure, optic radiation, peduncle
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: Abbrev.fr. tractate.
A written discourse or dissertation, generally of short extent; a short treatise, especially on practical religion.
The church clergy at that time writ the best collection of tracts against popery that ever appeared.— Jonathan Swift
Tracts for the Times. See Tractarian.
Origin: L. tractus a drawing, train, track, course, tract of land, from trahere tractum, to draw. Senses 4 and 5 are perhaps due to confusion with track. See Trace,verb, and cf. Tratt.
1. Something drawn out or extended; expanse. “The deep tract of hell.” John Milton
2. A region or quantity of land or water, of indefinite extent; an area; as, an unexplored tract of sea.
A very high mountain joined to the mainland by a narrow tract of earth.— Joseph Addison
3. Traits; features; lineaments. obsolete
The discovery of a man's self by the tracts of his countenance is a great weakness.— Francis, Baron Verulam Bacon
4. The footprint of a wild beast. obsolete John Dryden
5. Track; trace. obsolete
Efface all tract of its traduction.— Sir Thomas Browne
But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forthon, Leaving no tract behind.— William Shakespeare
6. Treatment; exposition. obsolete William Shakespeare
7. Continuity or extension of anything; as, the tract of speech. obsolete Older.
8. Continued or protracted duration; length; extent. “Improved by tract of time.” John Milton
9. Roman Catholic Church Verses of Scripture sung at Mass, instead of the Alleluia, from Septuagesima Sunday till the Saturday befor Easter; — so called because sung tractim, or without a break, by one voice, instead of by many as in the antiphons.
Synonyms: Region; district; quarter; essay; treatise; dissertation.
To trace out; to track; also, to draw out; to protact. obsolete Edmund Spenser Ben Jonson
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54