traction en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈtɾak.ʃən/ (Scotland, Wales)
- /ˈtɹak.ʃən/ (British, Southern, Standard)
- /ˈtɹɛk.ʃən/ (New-Zealand)
- /ˈtɹæk.ʃən/ (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From Medieval Latin tractio, from Latin tractus, perfect passive participle of verb trahere (“pull”), + noun of action suffix -io (genitive -ionis).
Meanings
-
(uncountable, 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 14, Iain D. O. Frew, “The Brora Colliery Tramway”, in Railway Magazine, page 57:
- (uncountable, usually) The condition of being so pulled.
- (uncountable, usually) Grip.
- (uncountable, usually) The pulling power of an engine or animal.
- (uncountable, usually) The adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface.
-
(after forms of gain, qualifier:get or have, uncountable, usually) 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.
- (after forms of gain, qualifier:get or have, uncountable, usually) Progress in or momentum toward achieving a goal, especially in gaining support, recognition, or popularity. ▸ The extent of adoption of a new product or service, typically measured in number of customers or level of revenue achieved.
- (after forms of gain, qualifier:get or have, uncountable, usually) Progress in or momentum toward achieving a goal, especially in gaining support, recognition, or popularity. ▸ Popular support.
-
(after forms of gain, qualifier:get or have, uncountable, usually) Progress in or momentum toward achieving a goal, especially in gaining support, recognition, or popularity. ▸ 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:
- (uncountable, usually) A mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb.
- (uncountable, usually) Collectively, the locomotives of a railroad, especially electric locomotives.
-
(obsolete, uncountable, usually) A traction engine.
‘Well,’ McCarthy answered, with a broad smile, when Dan stopped the puffing traction before his door[.]
1911, ‘Steel Rudd’, The Book of Dan, Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, published 1970, page 1:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tractions | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
countertraction · nontraction · gription · retractioning · traction alopecia · traction motor · gain traction · re-tractioning · retraction · traction engine · tractionless · tractional · non-traction · tractioneer · traction battery · tractive
Relateds
Translations (35)
id traksi (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · bg сцепление (adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface) · id traksi (pulling power of an engine or animal) · fi vetovoima (pulling power of an engine or animal) · fi veto (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · nl tractie (adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface) · es tracción (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · ota چكیش (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · es tracción (mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb) · id traksi (mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb) · pl przyczepność (adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface) · bg влачене (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · mk влечење (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · fi pito (adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface) · it spinta (extent of adoption of a new product or service) · gl tracción (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · it trazione (mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb) · gl tracción (mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb) · ru подде́ржка (extent of adoption of a new product or service) · nl aandrijving (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · mk влеча (pulling power of an engine or animal) · pl wyciąg (mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb) · ca tracció (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · fi veto (mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb) · bg разтягане (mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb) · it trazione (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · it aderenza (adhesive friction of a wheel etc on a surface) · mk влеча (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · bg тяга (pulling power of an engine or animal) · fi traktio (mechanically applied sustained pull, especially to a limb) · mk влечна сила (pulling power of an engine or animal) · pt tração (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · bg теглене (act of pulling something along a surface using motive power) · nl trekkracht (pulling power of an engine or animal) · nl aandrijving (condition of being so pulled)