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extract definition

ex·tract (ek strakt′, ik-; for n. eks′trakt′)

transitive verb

  1. to draw out by effort; pull out to extract a tooth, to extract a promise from someone
  2. to remove or separate (metal) from ore
  3. to obtain (a substance, esp. an essence or concentrate) by pressing, distilling, using a solvent, etc. to extract juice from fruit
  4. to obtain as if by drawing out; deduce (a principle), derive or elicit (information, pleasure, etc.), or the like
  5. to copy out or quote (a passage from a book, etc.); excerpt
  6. Math. to compute (the root of a quantity)

Etymology: ME extracten < L extractus, pp. of extrahere, to draw out < ex-, out + trahere, to draw

noun

something extracted; specif.,
  1. a concentrated form, whether solid, viscid, or liquid, of a food, flavoring, etc. beef extract
  2. a passage selected from a book, etc.; excerpt; quotation
  3. Pharmacy the concentrated substance obtained by dissolving a drug in some solvent, as ether or alcohol, and then evaporating the preparation

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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