extract

[ik-strakt, ek-strakt, ek-strakt]

verb (used with object)

1. to get, pull, or draw out, usually with special effort, skill, or force.

   to extract a tooth.

2. to deduce (a doctrine, principle, interpretation, etc.).

   He extracted a completely personal meaning from what was said.

3. to derive or obtain (pleasure, comfort, etc.) from a particular source.

   He extracted satisfaction from the success of his sons.

4. to take or copy out (matter), as from a book.

5. to make excerpts from (a book, pamphlet, etc.).

6. to extort (information, money, etc.).

   to extract a secret from someone.

   Synonyms: elicit, educe, evoke

7. to separate or obtain (a juice, ingredient, etc.) from a mixture by pressure, distillation, treatment with solvents, or the like.

   Synonyms: distill, withdraw

8. Mathematics.

   1. to determine (the root of a quantity that has a single root).

   2. to determine (a root of a quantity that has multiple roots).

noun

1. something extracted.

2. a passage taken from a book, article, etc.; excerpt; quotation.

   Synonyms: selection, citation

3. a solution or preparation containing the active principles of a drug, plant juice, or the like; concentrated solution.

   vanilla extract.

   Synonyms: distillation, decoction

4. a solid, viscid, or liquid substance extracted from a plant, drug, or the like, containing its essence in concentrated form.

   beef extract.

extract

verb

1. to withdraw, pull out, or uproot by force

2. to remove or separate

3. to derive (pleasure, information, etc) from some source or situation

4. to deduce or develop (a doctrine, policy, etc)

5. informal,  to extort (money, etc)

6. to obtain (a substance) from a mixture or material by a chemical or physical process, such as digestion, distillation, the action of a solvent, or mechanical separation

7. to cut out or copy out (an article, passage, quotation, etc) from a publication

8. to determine the value of (the root of a number)

noun

1. something extracted, such as a part or passage from a book, speech, etc

2. a preparation containing the active principle or concentrated essence of a material

   beef extract

   yeast extract

3. pharmacol a solution of plant or animal tissue containing the active principle

Usage

Extract is sometimes wrongly used where extricate would be better: he will find it difficult extricating (not extracting ) himself from this situation

Other Word Forms

• extractable adjective
• extractability noun
• extractible adjective
• extractibility noun
• nonextractable adjective
• nonextracted adjective
• nonextractible adjective
• overextract verb (used with object)
• preextract verb (used with object)
• unextractable adjective
• unextracted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extract¹

First recorded in 1475–1500; from Latin extractus (past participle of extrahere ). See ex- ¹, tract ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of extract¹

C15: from Latin extractus drawn forth, from extrahere, from trahere to drag

Synonym Study

Extract, exact, extort, wrest imply using force to remove something. To extract is to draw forth something as by pulling, importuning, or the like: to extract a confession by torture. To exact is to impose a penalty, or to obtain by force or authority, something to which one lays claim: to exact payment. To extort is to wring something by intimidation or threats from an unwilling person: to extort money by threats of blackmail. To wrest is to take by force or violence in spite of active resistance: The courageous minority wrested power from their oppressors.

Example Sentences

Traditionally, extracting that all-important iron from ores requires blast furnaces that run on fossil fuels.

From BBC

Also, since the foetuses were attached to organs like the liver, kidneys and the intestines, they had to be extracted with great care so that no organs or blood vessels were damaged.

From BBC

“The law is clear: competition, not coercion, should decide what news channels Americans can watch. By leveraging its must-have status, Fox has blocked new voices, suppressed consumer choice, and extracted excess profits.”

From Salon

Cid's lawyer spoke at the session on Tuesday and stressed that his client had not been coerced into striking the plea deal, thereby rebutting accusations that his testimony had been extracted under pressure.

From BBC

Mr Tice said: "It is negligent not to even try to extract the energy treasure that can improve our economy, grow the economy, make people better off."

From BBC

Related Words

• cull 
• derive 
• distill 
• elicit 
• exact 
• extort 
• extricate 
• glean 
• obtain 
• pluck 
• pry 
• pull 
• reap 
• separate 
• siphon 
• squeeze 
• withdraw 
• wrest 
• wring