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tract

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The definition of a tract is a period of time, or an area of land, or a system in the body that has a specific function, or a set of religious verses sung in a Roman Catholic mass.

(noun)

An example of a tract is a section of five acres of farmland.
An example of a tract is the digestive system.
An example of a tract is a combination of Bible verses recited during Easter religious services.

See tract in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Archaic
1. duration or lapse of time
2. a period of time
a continuous expanse of land or of water, mineral deposit, etc.; stretch; extent; area
☆ Chiefly West a housing development
Anat., Zool.
1. a system of parts or organs, or an elongated region, having some special function: the genitourinary tract
2. a bundle of nerve fibers having the same origin, termination, and function
Origin: ML(Ec) tractus
R.C.Ch. in the former Latin Mass, one or more penitential verses said, as in Lent, after the Gradual

Origin: L tractus, a drawing out, extent < pp. of trahere, to draw

noun

Obsolete a treatise
a propagandizing pamphlet, esp. one on a religious or political subject

Origin: ME tracte < LL tractatus: see tractate

See tract in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. An expanse of land or water.
b. A specified or limited area of land: developing a 30-acre tract.
Anatomy
a. A system of organs and tissues that together perform a specialized function: the alimentary tract.
b. A bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function.
Archaic A stretch or lapse of time.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, period of time

Origin: , from Latin tractus, course, space, period of time

Origin: , from past participle of trahere, to draw

noun

A leaflet or pamphlet containing a declaration or appeal, especially one put out by a religious or political group.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English tracte, treatise

Origin: , probably short for Latin tractātus

Origin: , from past participle of tractāre, to discuss, frequentative of trahere, to draw

noun

The verses from Scripture sung during Lent or on Ember Days after the gradual in the Roman Catholic Mass.