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noun Common

extraction

ihk-STRAK-shuhn

Extraction (noun) means the act or process of removing or drawing something out. Example: “Oil extraction in the region has increased sharply over the past decade.”

noun
1
The act or process of removing or drawing something out.
"Oil extraction in the region has increased sharply over the past decade."
2
A person's ancestry or family origin.
"She is of Italian extraction on her mother's side."
3
The removal of a tooth.
"He needed an emergency extraction after the tooth cracked."

How to Use Extraction

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe process of pulling or drawing something out — a tooth, a resource, or figuratively, one's ancestry.

Common pairings
of French extraction tooth extraction oil extraction

Word Forms

extractions plural

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Test yourself on “extraction” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Oil _____ in the region has increased sharply over the past decade.

Etymology

From Old French estraction, based on Medieval Latin extractio — the noun form of "drawing out."

Origin: Medieval Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for extraction

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “extraction” mean?

The word “extraction” means the act or process of removing or drawing something out. In plain terms, the process of pulling or drawing something out — a tooth, a resource, or figuratively, one's ancestry.

How do you pronounce “extraction”?

“Extraction” is pronounced ihk-STRAK-shuhn (/ɪkˈstɹækʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “extraction” in a sentence?

Here is “extraction” used in a sentence: “Oil extraction in the region has increased sharply over the past decade.”

What is another word for “extraction”?

Words with a similar meaning to “extraction” include reduction.

What part of speech is “extraction”?

“Extraction” is a noun.

Where does the word “extraction” come from?

The word “extraction” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French estraction, based on Medieval Latin extractio — the noun form of "drawing out.".

Is “extraction” a common word?

“Extraction” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “extraction” have?

“Extraction” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act or process of removing or drawing something out.

What is the difference between extraction and reduction?

Extraction refers to the act of removing or drawing something out, such as extracting oil from the ground or data from a database. Reduction, listed as a related term, instead refers to making something smaller or less in amount, a different process entirely from pulling something out.

What does extraction mean when referring to a tooth?

A tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth, typically performed by a dentist or oral surgeon when a tooth is damaged, decayed, or causing crowding. This is a specific medical sense of the more general meaning of extraction as removing something.

What does extraction mean when referring to a person's background?

When applied to a person, extraction refers to their ancestry or family origin, as in a person of Italian extraction. This sense describes where someone's family line comes from rather than a physical act of removal.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial