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

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
On Wednesday, the King of Spain, 56, shared the update while leaving the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid, where his 85-year-old mother was reportedly admitted for a urinary tract infection on April 9. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024 In Ontario, pharmacists prescribe medications for nineteen common conditions, including urinary tract infections (UTI), menstrual cramps, and hay fever. Jeffrey Singer, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024 Both capsules and tablets deliver medication via your digestion tract to treat various health concerns. Health Editorial Team, Health, 30 Mar. 2024 That is the whole of the premise, really, and almost the series’ sole setting, as, from 1922 to 1958, with large tracts of time skipped over, characters come into and out of the Count‘s small world — which, with its other rooms, and nooks and crannies, proves not such a small world after all. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024 The authors further explained that older adults with dementia or those experiencing altered mental status are also most likely to be misdiagnosed with other conditions, such as urinary tract infections. Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024 Even with growing interest in bamboo farming, authorities will have to encourage more farmers in rural parts of Uganda to plant vast tracts of land with bamboo. Rodney Muhumuza, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2024 A lot of the time, people with BV might not be familiar with it, and so mistake it for a yeast infection or urinary tract infection (UTI), which have similar symptoms—think itchiness and irritation. Mara Santilli, SELF, 21 Mar. 2024 Each year, more than 400 million urinary tract infections occur in people around the globe. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tract.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near tract

Cite this Entry

“Tract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tract. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

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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