extract

/'ekstrækt - iks'trækt/

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The word "extract" can be both a noun and a verb, and it has a few different meanings depending on how it is used. Let's break it down for better understanding.

As a Noun:

1. Meaning: An "extract" refers to a small part taken from a larger work, like a book or article. It can also refer to a solution made by soaking a substance, often in water.
   • Example: "He presented extracts from William James' philosophical writings."
   • Usage: You use "extract" when you want to refer to a piece taken out of something bigger, or to a concentrated form of a substance, like vanilla extract in cooking.

As a Verb:

1. Meaning: To "extract" means to take something out from a larger whole. This can be done physically or in a more abstract sense.
   • Example: "The dentist had to extract a bad tooth."
   • Usage: You use "extract" when you are removing something or obtaining information from a source.

Advanced Usage:

• In Science: You might extract a chemical from a plant using a process like distillation.
• In Math: You can extract the square root of a number.

Word Variants:

• Extraction (noun): The process of extracting something.
  • Example: "The extraction of the tooth was painful."
• Extractable (adjective): Something that can be extracted.
  • Example: "The extractable data from the survey was useful."

Different Meanings:

1. Literary Context: A passage taken from a book or article.
2. Cooking: A concentrated flavor or essence derived from a substance, like "vanilla extract."
3. Medical/Dental Context: Removing a tooth or other body part.

Synonyms:

• Noun: excerpt, passage, portion, essence
• Verb: remove, take out, pull out, derive

Idioms & Phrasal Verbs:

• Pull something out: This can be used similarly to "extract" when talking about taking something out of a situation or a physical space.
  • Example: "Can you pull out the important points from this report?"
• Extract information: This phrase means to obtain valuable data or details from someone or something.
  • Example: "The detective tried to extract information from the witness."

Summary:

The word "extract" is versatile and can be used in various contexts.

Academic

Noun

1. a passage selected from a larger work
   • he presented excerpts from William James' philosophical writings
2. a solution obtained by steeping or soaking a substance (usually in water)

Verb

1. calculate the root of a number
2. take out of a literary work in order to cite or copy
3. obtain from a substance, as by mechanical action
   • Italians express coffee rather than filter it
4. separate (a metal) from an ore
5. extract by the process of distillation
   • distill the essence of this compound
6. deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning)
   • We drew out some interesting linguistic data from the native informant
7. get despite difficulties or obstacles
   • I extracted a promise from the Dean for two new positions
8. remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
   • pull weeds
   • extract a bad tooth
   • take out a splinter
   • extract information from the telegram

Synonyms

• excerpt
• excerption
• selection
• infusion
• take out
• press out
• express
• distill
• distil
• educe
• evoke
• elicit
• draw out
• pull out
• pull
• pull up