verb
extract
EHKST-rakt
verb
1
To pull or draw something out, often with effort or force.
"The dentist had to extract two of her wisdom teeth."
"Investigators extracted a confession after hours of questioning."
noun
1
A short passage taken from a longer piece of writing, speech, or recording.
"The teacher read an extract from the novel before the class discussion."
2
A concentrated substance obtained by drawing out the essential part of something.
"A teaspoon of vanilla extract gives the cake its flavour."
How to Use Extract
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pull something out (a tooth, information, a quote), or a concentrated substance/passage taken from something bigger.
Common pairings
extract information
extract a tooth
vanilla extract
an extract from the book
Word Forms
extracted past tense, extraught past tense, extracts plural, extracts singular
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The dentist had to _____ two of her wisdom teeth.
Etymology
From Latin extrahere, "to drag out" — from ex- ("out") + trahere ("to drag"), the same root behind "traction" and "tractor."