B2 adjective Neutral

extract

/ɪkˈstrækt/

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 5
1

The dentist needed to extract the wisdom tooth because it was causing pain.

The dentist had to remove the wisdom tooth because it was painful.

2

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.

3

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

Noun
extraction
Verb
extract
Adjective
extractive
Related
extractor
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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

1

The dentist needed to extract the wisdom tooth because it was causing pain.

everyday

The dentist had to remove the wisdom tooth because it was painful.

2

The legal team worked for hours to extract a confession from the witness.

formal

The lawyers spent a long time trying to get the witness to admit the truth.

3

I'm trying to extract that annoying splinter from my palm with tweezers.

informal

I am attempting to pull out the small piece of wood from my hand.

4

Scientists use specialized equipment to extract DNA from ancient fossils.

academic

Researchers use tools to get genetic material out of old biological remains.

5

Our goal this quarter is to extract more value from our existing customer base.

business

Our objective is to get more profit or benefit from our current clients.

Word Family

Noun
extraction
Verb
extract
Adjective
extractive
Related
extractor

Common Collocations

extract data to retrieve information from a database
extract a tooth to have a tooth pulled out by a dentist
vanilla extract a concentrated liquid flavoring derived from vanilla beans
extract oil to pull petroleum or oils from the ground or a plant
extract a promise to force or persuade someone to give a commitment

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

extract vs abstract

An abstract is a summary of a paper, whereas to extract is the physical or logical act of pulling something out.

extract vs subtract

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

verb + object (extract the juice) verb + object + from + source (extract oil from the earth) often used in the passive voice (the tooth was extracted)

Quick Quiz

The software was designed to _______ keywords from thousands of documents automatically.

Correct!

The correct answer is: extract

Related Words

ultraphobty

C1

A state of extreme, pathological fear or an overwhelming aversion that exceeds the intensity of a standard phobia. It is typically used in clinical or specialized contexts to describe a totalizing and paralyzing sense of dread toward a specific stimulus or environment.

supercredcy

C1

Describing information, sources, or evidence that possesses an exceptionally high degree of reliability, authority, and trustworthiness. It is used to characterize something that is considered beyond reproach or indisputable in its veracity.

multiantidom

C1

Describing a state or entity that exhibits resistance or opposition across several distinct domains, jurisdictions, or spheres of influence. It characterizes a complex posture of multifaceted defiance aimed at maintaining autonomy against multiple external pressures.

incelerer

C1

To hasten or increase the speed and efficiency of a process, action, or development from within. It is specifically used in technical or academic contexts to describe the stimulation of inherent growth or velocity.

multichromness

C1

The state or quality of exhibiting multiple colors or shifting hues, particularly in response to light or perspective. It describes a complex visual property where various pigments or light frequencies create a diverse, often iridescent, appearance.

postlaterfy

C1

Describes a state or action that has been deferred beyond a secondary point of delay, often implying a sequence of repeated postponements. It characterizes tasks, decisions, or events that exist in a state of indefinite future scheduling.

homolucous

C1

To explain, clarify, or illuminate diverse subjects using a single, unified perspective or set of criteria. It involves the process of bringing disparate ideas into a shared and consistent framework of understanding.

pretactate

C1

To strategically plan, coordinate, or arrange preliminary tactical measures before a major operation or formal engagement. It involves the meticulous organization of steps to ensure a desired outcome during the execution phase.

monothermal

C1

A clinical procedure or state characterized by a single temperature, most commonly used in audiology to refer to a caloric test performed with either warm or cold irrigation alone. It is used as a screening tool to assess the balance system of the inner ear more quickly than standard two-temperature tests.

deducity

C1

Describing a logic or statement that is inherently capable of being inferred from established premises through a process of reasoning. In specialized testing contexts, it refers to the quality of a conclusion that follows necessarily from its preceding arguments.

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