traction
verbEtymology From Medieval Latin tractio, from Latin tractus, perfect passive participle of verb trahere (“pull”), + noun of action suffix -io (genitive -ionis).
1
Medicine, Sciences To apply a sustained pull to (a limb, etc.).
traction
nounAU, US, UK /ˈtɹæk.ʃən/ · UK /ˈtɹak.ʃən/
Etymology From Medieval Latin tractio, from Latin tractus, perfect passive participle of verb trahere (“pull”), + noun of action suffix -io (genitive -ionis).
11 senses
- 1The act of pulling something along a surface using motive power.
- 2The condition of being so pulled.
- 3Grip.
- 4The pulling power of an engine or animal.
- 5The adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface.
- 6Progress in or momentum toward achieving a goal…
- 7The extent of adoption of a new product or service…
- 8Popular support.
- 9Scholarly interest and research.
- 10A mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb.
- 11Collectively, the locomotives of a railroad, especially…
1
Usually The act of pulling something along a surface using motive power.
- Horse traction was used for all but 23 years of the tramway's life.1960 January 23, Iain D. O. Frew, “The Brora Colliery Tramway”, in Railway Magazine, page 57:
2
Usually The condition of being so pulled.
3
Usually Grip.
4
Usually The pulling power of an engine or animal.
5
Usually The adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface.
6
Usually, After forms of gain Progress in or momentum toward achieving a goal, especially in gaining support, recognition, or popularity.
- I could not get any traction in trying to push through the legislation.
7
Business Usually, After forms of gain The extent of adoption of a new product or service, typically measured in number of customers or level of revenue achieved.
8
Government, Politics Usually, After forms of gain Popular support.
9
Academia, Scholarly, Sciences Usually, After forms of gain Scholarly interest and research.
- Despite this somewhat late start, the field of study has gained great traction globally, and since 2015 has even had its own journal: Linguistic Landscape: An International Journal.2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, →DOI, page 2:
10
Medicine, Sciences Usually A mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb.
11
Transport Usually Collectively, the locomotives of a railroad, especially electric locomotives.
- Derived terms
- countertraction, gain traction, gription, non-traction, nontraction, retraction, re-tractioning, retractioning, tractional, traction alopecia, traction battery, tractioneer, traction engine, tractionless, traction motor, tractive
- Related terms
- contraction, subtraction