tract
1
[ trakt ]
/ trækt /
noun
an expanse or area of land, water, etc.; region; stretch.
Anatomy.
- a definite region or area of the body, especially a group, series, or system of related parts or organs: the digestive tract.
- 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.
Origin of tract
1
1350–1400; (in senses referring to extent of space) < Latin
tractus stretch (of space or time), a drawing out, equivalent to
trac-, variant stem of
trahere to draw +
-tus suffix of v. action;
(def 4) < Medieval Latin
tractus, apparently identical with the above, though literal sense unexplained
Words nearby tract
Definition for tract (2 of 2)
tract
2
[ trakt ]
/ trækt /
noun
a brief treatise or pamphlet for general distribution, usually on a religious or political topic.
Origin of tract
2Example sentences from the Web for tract
British Dictionary definitions for tract (1 of 3)
tract
1
/ (trækt) /
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
Word Origin for tract
C15: from Latin
tractus a stretching out, from
trahere to drag
British Dictionary definitions for tract (2 of 3)
tract
2
/ (trækt) /
noun
a treatise or pamphlet, esp a religious or moralistic one
Word Origin for tract
C15: from Latin
tractātus
tractate
British Dictionary definitions for tract (3 of 3)
tract
3
/ (trækt) /
noun
RC Church
an anthem in some Masses
Word Origin for tract
C14: from Medieval Latin
tractus cantus extended song; see
tract
1
Medical definitions for tract
tract
[ trăkt ]
n.
An elongated assembly of tissue or organs having a common origin, function, and termination, or a serial arrangement having a common function.
A bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function.
Scientific definitions for tract
tract
[ trăkt ]
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.