tract

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtrakt 

1

a

: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function

the digestive tract

b

: a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function

2

: an area either large or small: such as

a

: an indefinite stretch of land

b

: a defined area of land

3

: extent or lapse of time

tract

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a pamphlet or leaflet of political or religious propaganda

also : a piece of writing that is suggestive of such a tract

tract

3 of 3

noun (3)

often capitalized

: verses of Scripture (as from the Psalms) used between the gradual and the Gospel at some masses (as during penitential seasons)

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• belt
• corridor
• land
• neck
• part(s)
• region
• zone

Examples of tract in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a vast and fertile tract of farmland

the town had planned on turning that tract of meadow into a park

had a number of small tracts for sale, but we couldn't afford to buy land and then build a house

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The name is a nod to the 86-acre (34-hectare) tract’s history as a once-thriving Black community demolished for the Rays’ current domed Tropicana Field and earlier for an interstate highway spur. —Curt Anderson, Fortune, 8 May 2024

And—this is key—pair them with food: Syncing up with your mealtime will protect your stomach and reduce your risk of ulcers, which are open sores in your GI tract that can cause burning stomach pain. —Julia Ries, SELF, 7 May 2024

Neurons tend to group together to form neural tracts, which would be like the streets and highways in the city analogy. —Jennifer Robinson, The Conversation, 6 May 2024

Foods containing artificial sweeteners (particularly sugar alcohols, like sorbitol, mannitol, and glycerol) can also dial up the gas in your GI tract and lead to bloating. —Marygrace Taylor, SELF, 2 May 2024

For one, movement in general can speed up your gut motility, or how quickly waste moves through your GI tract. —Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 22 Apr. 2024

Another possibility is that both sugars and artificial sweeteners can disrupt the healthy balance of gut bacteria in the GI tract, which may lead to the development of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes, says Prest. —Perri Ormont Blumberg, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024

In men, most infertility issues are associated with vitality and quantity of sperm produced; and whether those sperm will live long enough or experience issues while trying to reach an egg within the female reproductive tract. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024

On Wednesday, the King of Spain, 56, shared the update while leaving the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid, where his 85-year-old mother was reportedly admitted for a urinary tract infection on April 9. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English tracte, from Latin tractus action of drawing, extension, from trahere to pull, draw

Noun (2)

Middle English, treatise, from Medieval Latin tractus, perhaps alteration of Latin tractatus tractate

Noun (3)

Middle English tracte, from Medieval Latin tractus, from Latin, action of drawing, extension; perhaps from its being sung without a break by one voice

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

1760, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tract

• alimentary tract
• digestive tract
• gastrointestinal tract
• lower respiratory tract
• pyramidal tract
• respiratory tract
• tract house
• upper respiratory tract

Kids Definition

tract

1 of 2 noun

ˈtrakt 

1

a

: an indefinite stretch of land

a large tract of forest

b

: a defined area of land

a garden tract

2

: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function

the digestive tract

tract

2 of 2 noun

: a pamphlet of political or religious ideas and beliefs

Medical Definition

tract

noun

ˈtrakt 

1

: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function see also digestive tract, gastrointestinal tract, lower respiratory tract, upper respiratory tract

2

: a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function and especially one within the spinal cord or brain

called also fiber tract

see also corticospinal tract, olfactory tract, optic tract, spinothalamic tract