Extract
/ɪkˈstrækt/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo take out or pull out, especially by force or with effort. To select and remove (a passage) from a text or piece of music.
/ɪkˈstrækt/
To remove or obtain something.
The dentist extracted the infected tooth.
💡 Simply: Think of it like squeezing juice from an orange! Extract means to take something out or get something from something else. Like, 'I extracted the important information from the article.'
👶 For kids: Taking something out from something else, like taking a candy from a jar.
More Examples
The journalist extracted a key piece of evidence from the documents.
Scientists are attempting to extract oil from the shale rock.
The teacher extracted the students from the class during a fire drill.
How It's Used
"The chemist extracted the DNA from the cells."
"The editor extracted a quote from the author's manuscript."
"The company extracted significant profits from the new venture."
A concentrated preparation of a substance, often obtained by dissolving a part of a raw material in a solvent and then evaporating the solvent. A short passage selected from a longer work, such as a book, musical composition, or film.
/ˈɛkstrækt/
A concentrated substance or selected passage.
The vanilla extract gave the cookies a delicious flavor.
💡 Simply: Imagine a super strong, concentrated version of something, like vanilla extract for baking, which has a lot of vanilla flavor in a small amount. Or a short part taken from a longer story, called an extract!
👶 For kids: A small amount of something that has been taken out and made stronger, like a flavoring for food, or a little piece of writing taken from a longer book.
More Examples
The book included an extract from the author's diary.
The scientist analyzed the chemical extract.
The museum displayed an extract of an ancient document.
How It's Used
"Vanilla extract adds flavor to the cake."
"The book contains an extract from a famous poem."
"The scientist used an extract to test for the presence of a certain substance."
Idioms & expressions
extract oneself
To leave or withdraw from a place or situation, especially with difficulty or effort.
"She finally managed to extract herself from the boring conversation."
From Latin *extractus*, past participle of *extrahere* 'to draw out, drag out', from *ex-* 'out' + *trahere* 'to draw'.
The verb 'extract' has been used since the 15th century, evolving from its Latin roots related to drawing or pulling something out. The noun form appeared later, relating to the result of extracting.
Memory tip
Imagine 'ex' (out) and 'tract' (pull). Pull something *out*.
Word Origin
"to draw, pull"