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noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

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."
2
A system of connected organs or passages in the body that serve one function.
"The infection had spread through her respiratory tract."
3
A short pamphlet, especially one on a religious or political topic.
"Volunteers handed out tracts outside the church."

How to use tract

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

tracted past tense, tracted past tense, tracts plural, tracts singular, tracts singular

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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."

Origin: Latin

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial