tract

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)

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

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See tract in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. Archaic
    1. duration or lapse of time
    2. a period of time
  2. a continuous expanse of land or of water, mineral deposit, etc.; stretch; extent; area
  3. Chiefly West a housing development
  4. 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
  5. 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

  1. Obsolete a treatise
  2. 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
  1. a. An expanse of land or water.
    b. A specified or limited area of land: developing a 30-acre tract.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

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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.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English tracte

Origin: , from Medieval Latin tractus

Origin: , from Latin, a drawing out (from its being an uninterrupted solo); see tract1

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