tract

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function
the digestive tract
b
: a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function
2
: an area either large or small: such as
a
: an indefinite stretch of land
b
: a defined area of land
3
: extent or lapse of time

tract

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a pamphlet or leaflet of political or religious propaganda
also : a piece of writing that is suggestive of such a tract

tract

3 of 3

noun (3)

often capitalized
: verses of Scripture (as from the Psalms) used between the gradual and the Gospel at some masses (as during penitential seasons)

Examples of tract in a Sentence

Noun (1) a vast and fertile tract of farmland the town had planned on turning that tract of meadow into a park had a number of small tracts for sale, but we couldn't afford to buy land and then build a house
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Those include injection site reactions, common cold symptoms, and upper respiratory tract infections. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 29 Apr. 2025 He was , diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, MRSA and pneumonia in February of that year and then again later in April with another illness. Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025 In March, it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women and girls ages 12 and older. Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025 According to the Cleveland Clinic, E. coli is a group of bacteria that can cause infections in your gut, urinary tract and other parts of the body. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tract

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English tracte, from Latin tractus action of drawing, extension, from trahere to pull, draw

Noun (2)

Middle English, treatise, from Medieval Latin tractus, perhaps alteration of Latin tractatus tractate

Noun (3)

Middle English tracte, from Medieval Latin tractus, from Latin, action of drawing, extension; perhaps from its being sung without a break by one voice

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

1760, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tract was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tract. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

tract

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: an indefinite stretch of land
a large tract of forest
b
: a defined area of land
a garden tract
2
: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function
the digestive tract

tract

2 of 2 noun
: a pamphlet of political or religious ideas and beliefs

Medical Definition

tract

noun
1
: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function see also digestive tract, gastrointestinal tract, lower respiratory tract, upper respiratory tract
2
: a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function and especially one within the spinal cord or brain

called also fiber tract

see also corticospinal tract, olfactory tract, optic tract, spinothalamic tract

More from Merriam-Webster on tract

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