A vast tract of land is ready for development. [+ of]
They cleared large tracts of forest for farming, logging and ranching.
Synonyms: area, lot, region, estate [British] More Synonyms of tract
2. countable noun
A tract is a short article expressing a strong opinion on a religious, moral, or political subject in order to try to influence people's attitudes.
She produced a feminist tract, 'Comments on Birth-Control', in 1930.
Synonyms: treatise, essay, leaflet, brochure More Synonyms of tract
3. countable noun
A tract is a system of organs and tubes in an animal's or person's body that has a particular function, especially the function of processing a substance in the body.
[medicine]
Foods are broken down in the digestive tract.
A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract.
...urinary tract infections.
tract in British English1
(trækt)
noun
1.
an extended area, as of land
2. anatomy
a system of organs, glands, or other tissues that has a particular function
the digestive tract
3.
a bundle of nerve fibres having the same function, origin, and termination
the optic tract
4. archaic
an extended period of time
Word origin
C15: from Latin tractus a stretching out, from trahere to drag
tract in British English2
(trækt)
noun
a treatise or pamphlet, esp a religious or moralistic one
Word origin
C15: from Latin tractātustractate
tract in British English3
(trækt)
noun
Roman Catholic Church
an anthem in some Masses
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin tractus cantus extended song; see tract1
tract in American English1
(trækt)
noun
1. Archaic
a.
duration or lapse of time
b.
a period of time
2.
a continuous expanse of land or of water, mineral deposit, etc.; stretch; extent; area
3. US Chiefly West
a housing development
see also development (sense 4)
4. Anatomy and Zoology
a.
a system of parts or organs, or an elongated region, having some special function
the genitourinary tract
b.
a bundle of nerve fibers having the same origin, termination, and function
5. Roman CatholicChurch
in the former Latin Mass, one or more penitential verses said, as in Lent, after the Gradual
Word origin
L tractus, a drawing out, extent < pp. of trahere, to draw; (sense 5) ML(Ec) tractus
tract in American English2
(trækt)
noun
1. Obsolete
a treatise
2.
a propagandizing pamphlet, esp. one on a religious or political subject
Word origin
ME tracte < LL tractatus: see tractate
Examples of 'tract' in a sentence
tract
I could hear the sound of Alexis dragging smoke into her long-suffering respiratory tract.
Val McDermid KICK BACK (2002)
Miss Webster handed me a diagram of the respiratory tract: not of hers, of course, but of a more ideal one.
Hilary Mantel LEARNING TO TALK: SHORT STORIES (2002)
also has a grazing lease on a small tract of Bureau of Land Management land adjoining its property.
Tony Hillerman THE WAILING WIND (2002)
In other languages
tract
British English: tract NOUN
A tract of land is a very large area of land.
A vast tract of land is ready for development.
American English: tract
Brazilian Portuguese: trato
Chinese: 大片
European Spanish: extensión
French: étendue
German: Gebiet
Italian: estensione
Japanese: 地帯
Korean: > 지역넓은
European Portuguese: trato
Latin American Spanish: región
All related terms of 'tract'
tract house
a modern house built on an area of land where a lot of other similar houses have also been built
urinary tract
the organs in the body that produce and excrete urine
digestive tract
the system of organs within multicellular animals that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients , and expels the remaining waste
olfactory tract
a long narrow triangular band of white tissue originating in the olfactory bulb and extending back to the point at which its fibres enter the base of the cerebrum
respiratory tract
the passages through which air enters and leaves the body
urinary tract infection
infection of any part of the urinary tract , esp. the urethra or bladder , usually caused by a bacterium , Escherichia coli , and often precipitated by increased sexual activity, vaginitis, enlargement of the prostate , or stress
alimentary canal
The alimentary canal in a person or animal is the passage in their body through which food passes from their mouth to their anus.
urogenital system
the urinary tract and reproductive organs
(noun)
Definition
a large area, esp. of land
A vast tract of land is ready for development.
Synonyms
area
the large number of community groups in the area
lot
region
a remote mountain region
estate (British)
an industrial estate
district
I drove around the business district.
stretch
It's a very dangerous stretch of road.
quarter
He wandered through the Chinese quarter.
territory
They deny that any of their territory is under rebel control.
extent
an estate about seven or eight acres in extent
zone
The area has been declared a disaster zone.
plot
a small plot of land for growing vegetables
expanse
a vast expanse of grassland
(noun)
Definition
a pamphlet, esp. a religious one
I produced a tract on the dangers of ignoring climate change.
Synonyms
treatise
a lengthy treatise on prison reform
essay
He was asked to write an essay about his home town.
leaflet
Campaigners handed out leaflets on passive smoking.
brochure
travel brochures
booklet
a booklet on natural pesticides
pamphlet
an 80-page long election pamphlet
dissertation
He is currently writing a dissertation.
monograph
homily
disquisition
She launched into an authoritative disquisition.
tractate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of booklet
Definition
a thin book with paper covers
a booklet on natural pesticides
Synonyms
brochure,
leaflet,
hand-out,
pamphlet,
folder,
mailshot,
handbill
in the sense of brochure
Definition
a pamphlet or booklet, esp. one containing introductory information or advertising
travel brochures
Synonyms
booklet,
advertisement,
leaflet,
hand-out,
circular,
pamphlet,
folder,
mailshot,
handbill
in the sense of disquisition
Definition
a formal written or oral examination of a subject
She launched into an authoritative disquisition.
Synonyms
lecture,
discourse,
exposition,
dissertation,
paper,
essay,
thesis,
treatise
Nearby words of
tract
track
track something or someone down
tracks
tract
tractable
traction
trade
Synonyms of 'tract'
tract
Explore 'tract' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dissertation
Definition
a written thesis, usually required for a higher degree
He is currently writing a dissertation.
Synonyms
thesis,
essay,
discourse,
critique,
exposition,
treatise,
disquisition
in the sense of district
Definition
an area which has recognizable or special features
I drove around the business district.
Synonyms
area,
community,
region,
sector,
quarter,
ward,
parish,
neighbourhood,
vicinity,
locality,
locale,
neck of the woods (informal)
in the sense of essay
Definition
a short piece of writing on a subject done as an exercise by a student
He was asked to write an essay about his home town.
Synonyms
composition,
study,
paper,
article,
piece,
assignment,
discourse,
tract,
treatise,
dissertation,
disquisition,
SA
in the sense of estate
Definition
a large area of land with houses or factories built on it
an industrial estate
Synonyms
area,
centre,
park,
development,
site,
zone,
plot
in the sense of expanse
Definition
an uninterrupted wide area
a vast expanse of grassland
Synonyms
area,
range,
field,
space,
stretch,
sweep,
extent,
plain,
tract,
breadth
in the sense of extent
Definition
the length, area, or size of something
an estate about seven or eight acres in extent
Synonyms
size,
area,
range,
length,
reach,
bounds,
sweep,
sphere,
width,
compass,
breadth,
ambit
in the sense of leaflet
Definition
a sheet of printed matter distributed, usually free, for advertising or information
Campaigners handed out leaflets on passive smoking.
Synonyms
booklet,
notice,
advert (British),
brochure,
bill,
circular,
flyer,
tract,
pamphlet,
handout,
mailshot,
handbill
in the sense of pamphlet
Definition
a thin paper-covered booklet, often on a subject of current interest
an 80-page long election pamphlet
Synonyms
booklet,
leaflet,
brochure,
circular,
tract,
folder
in the sense of plot
Definition
a small piece of land
a small plot of land for growing vegetables
Synonyms
patch,
lot,
area,
ground,
parcel,
tract,
allotment
in the sense of quarter
Definition
a region or district of a town or city
He wandered through the Chinese quarter.
Synonyms
district,
region,
neighbourhood,
place,
point,
part,
side,
area,
position,
station,
spot,
territory,
zone,
location,
province,
colony,
locality
Additional synonyms
in the sense of region
Definition
an area considered as a unit for geographical or social reasons
a remote mountain region
Synonyms
area,
country,
place,
part,
land,
quarter,
division,
section,
sector,
district,
territory,
zone,
province,
patch,
turf (slang),
tract,
expanse,
locality
in the sense of stretch
Definition
a large or continuous expanse or distance
It's a very dangerous stretch of road.
Synonyms
expanse,
area,
tract,
spread,
distance,
sweep,
extent
in the sense of territory
Definition
the geographical area under the control of a particular government
They deny that any of their territory is under rebel control.
Synonyms
district,
area,
land,
region,
state,
country,
sector,
zone,
province,
patch,
turf (slang),
domain,
terrain,
tract,
bailiwick
in the sense of zone
Definition
a region, area, or section characterized by some distinctive feature or quality