extract
To remove or pull something out by force or through a specific process. It also refers to obtaining a particular substance, information, or detail from a larger source or context.
Examples
3 of 5The dentist needed to extract the wisdom tooth because it was causing pain.
The dentist had to remove the wisdom tooth because it was painful.
The legal team worked for hours to extract a confession from the witness.
The lawyers spent a long time trying to get the witness to admit the truth.
I'm trying to extract that annoying splinter from my palm with tweezers.
I am attempting to pull out the small piece of wood from my hand.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Look at the prefix 'ex-' (out) and the root 'tract' (pull). Just like a 'tractor' pulls a plow, 'extract' means to 'pull out'.
Quick Quiz
The software was designed to _______ keywords from thousands of documents automatically.
Correct!
The correct answer is: extract
Examples
The dentist needed to extract the wisdom tooth because it was causing pain.
everydayThe dentist had to remove the wisdom tooth because it was painful.
The legal team worked for hours to extract a confession from the witness.
formalThe lawyers spent a long time trying to get the witness to admit the truth.
I'm trying to extract that annoying splinter from my palm with tweezers.
informalI am attempting to pull out the small piece of wood from my hand.
Scientists use specialized equipment to extract DNA from ancient fossils.
academicResearchers use tools to get genetic material out of old biological remains.
Our goal this quarter is to extract more value from our existing customer base.
businessOur objective is to get more profit or benefit from our current clients.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
extract a heavy toll
to cause a lot of suffering, damage, or deaths
extract the truth
to find out the reality behind a situation
extract the essence
to identify the most important part of something
Often Confused With
An abstract is a summary of a paper, whereas to extract is the physical or logical act of pulling something out.
Subtract is used specifically for taking away numbers in math, while extract is for removing items or substances.
Usage Notes
Use 'extract' when describing a process that requires effort, such as medical procedures, chemical processing, or getting difficult information. It is more formal than 'pull out'.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'extract' when they simply mean 'take'. Remember that 'extract' usually implies that the thing being removed is buried, hidden, or part of a larger mixture.
Memory Tip
Look at the prefix 'ex-' (out) and the root 'tract' (pull). Just like a 'tractor' pulls a plow, 'extract' means to 'pull out'.
Word Origin
From Latin 'extractus', meaning 'drawn out', from 'ex-' (out) and 'trahere' (to draw or pull).
Grammar Patterns
Quick Quiz
The software was designed to _______ keywords from thousands of documents automatically.
Correct!
The correct answer is: extract
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