tract
trakt
Tract (noun) means a large stretch or area of land. Example: “The company bought a huge tract of farmland for the new development.”
noun
1
A large stretch or area of land.
"The company bought a huge tract of farmland for the new development."
"Wild deer roam across a vast tract of woodland near the village."
"We hiked for hours across an empty tract of moorland."
2
A system of connected organs or passages in the body that serve one function.
"The infection had spread through her respiratory tract."
"The doctor checked his digestive tract to find the cause of the pain."
"Fibre helps keep the intestinal tract working well."
3
A short pamphlet, especially one on a religious or political topic.
"Volunteers handed out tracts outside the church."
"She found a faded tract about charity pushed through her letterbox."
"The old bookshop kept a box of tracts written long ago."
How to use tract
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stretch of land, a connected body system (like the digestive tract), or a short pamphlet.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
digestive tract
tract of land
religious tract
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Word forms
- Plural
- tracts
- Third person singular
- tracts
- Past tense
- tracted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company bought a huge _____ of farmland for the new development.
Etymology
From Latin tractus, "a drawing out, an extent," from trahere ("to pull, draw") — the same root behind "traction" and "tractor."
Related words
Rhymes for tract
See all rhymes for tract →Frequently asked questions
What does “tract” mean?
The word “tract” means a large stretch or area of land. In plain terms, a stretch of land, a connected body system (like the digestive tract), or a short pamphlet.
How do you pronounce “tract”?
“Tract” is pronounced trakt (/tɹækt/ in IPA).
How do you use “tract” in a sentence?
Here is “tract” used in a sentence: “The company bought a huge tract of farmland for the new development.”
What part of speech is “tract”?
“Tract” is a noun.
Where does the word “tract” come from?
The word “tract” comes from Latin. From Latin tractus, "a drawing out, an extent," from trahere ("to pull, draw") — the same root behind "traction" and "tractor.".
Is “tract” a common word?
“Tract” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “tract” have?
“Tract” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large stretch or area of land.
What is the difference between "tract" and "tracked"?
"Tract" and "tracked" are unrelated in meaning despite sounding similar: "tract" is a noun for a stretch of land, a body system, or a pamphlet, while "tracked" is the past tense of the verb "track," meaning to follow or monitor. They are commonly confused in writing because of their similar sound.
What is a religious or political tract?
In this sense, a "tract" is a short pamphlet, often distributed for free, that argues a religious or political point. This meaning is unrelated to the land or body-system senses of the word, though all three trace back to the idea of something "drawn out" or laid out at length.
