Definition Definition

extract - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'extract' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Extract [ n.]
- That which is extracted or drawn out.
- A portion of a book or document, separately transcribed; a citation; a quotation.
- A decoction, solution, or infusion made by drawing out from any substance that which gives it its essential and characteristic virtue; essence; as, extract of beef; extract of dandelion; also, any substance so extracted, and characteristic of that from which it is obtained; as, quinine is the most important extract of Peruvian bark.
- A solid preparation obtained by evaporating a solution of a drug, etc., or the fresh juice of a plant; -- distinguished from an abstract. See Abstract, n., 4.
- A peculiar principle once erroneously supposed to form the basis of all vegetable extracts; -- called also the extractive principle.
- Extraction; descent.
- A draught or copy of writing; certified copy of the proceedings in an action and the judgement therein, with an order for execution.
2 . Extract [ v. t.]
- To draw out or forth; to pull out; to remove forcibly from a fixed position, as by traction or suction, etc.; as, to extract a tooth from its socket, a stump from the earth, a splinter from the finger.
- To withdraw by expression, distillation, or other mechanical or chemical process; as, to extract an essence. Cf. Abstract, v. t., 6.
- To take by selection; to choose out; to cite or quote, as a passage from a book.

Meaning of 'extract' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . extract [ n]
Meaning (1):
- a passage selected from a larger work
Example in sentence:
  • he presented excerpts from William James' philosophical writings
2 . extract [ v]
Meaning (2):
- extract by the process of distillation
Example in sentence:
  • distill the essence of this compound
Meaning (3):
- remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
Example in sentence:
  • extract a bad tooth;
  • extract information from the telegram;
  • pull weeds;
  • take out a splinter
Meaning (4):
- get despite difficulties or obstacles
Example in sentence:
  • I extracted a promise from the Dean for two new positions
Meaning (5):
- obtain from a substance, as by mechanical action
Example in sentence:
  • Italians express coffee rather than filter it
Meaning (6):
- deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning)
Example in sentence:
  • We drew out some interesting linguistic data from the native informant