tract

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtrakt 

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)

variants often Tract

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

Synonyms of tract

Noun (1)

• region
• land
• neck
• part(s)

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

Noun

The lake abuts one of the largest remaining tracts of pine rockland at Larry and Penny Thompson Park. — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Over the long course of hominin evolution, the human vocal tract underwent a significant reorganization. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

No area of the brain was spared from the shrinkage, but the change was especially pronounced in the optic lobes and the optic tract—the bundles of nerves that carry visual signals to the brain—with reductions of 52% and 62% respectively. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 July 2026

In 2002, the Tanzanian government set aside a tract of 350,000 acres from the national park and gave it to a nonprofit, the Grumeti Community and Wildlife Conservation Fund (now known simply as the Grumeti Fund), as a private concession. — Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing tract

• alimentary tract
• digestive tract
• gastrointestinal tract
• lower respiratory tract
• pyramidal tract
• respiratory tract
• tract house
• upper respiratory tract

Rhymes for tract

• act
• backed
• blacked
• bract
• cracked
• fact
• hacked
• jacked
• lacked
• packed
• pact
• racked

Kids Definition

tract

1 of 2 noun

ˈtrakt 

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

ˈtrakt 

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