extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

1

: the act or process of extracting something

2

: ancestry, origin

a family of French extraction

3

: something extracted

Synonyms

• ancestry
• birth
• blood
• bloodline
• breeding
• descent
• family tree
• genealogy
• line
• lineage
• origin
• parentage
• pedigree
• stock
• strain

Examples of extraction in a Sentence

tooth extractions and other dental procedures

the extraction of teeth by dentists

the extraction of juices from plant matter

Recent Examples on the Web

Mattern writes about the cardboard box as a symbol—of extraction, of globalization, of imagination, of the pandemic—but also as a simple and incredibly functional object. —Longreads, 13 Dec. 2024

Greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction of fossil fuels are the primary cause for global warming, climate scientists say. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024

Where the coal is from determines how straightforward rare earth extraction would be, the study found. —Laura Paddison, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024

President-elect 's plans for energy development in the U.S. are driven by the promotion of fossil fuel extraction and the dismissal of clean energy projects, particularly wind. —Tom Norton, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English extraccioun "removal (of blood, foreign matter from the body), determination (of the root of a number)," borrowed from Late Latin extractiōn-, extractiō "withdrawal, removal," from Latin extrac-, variant stem of extrahere "to pull out, draw forth" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at extract entry 1

Note: Sense 2, attested since William Caxton, is based on Middle French extracion, estration, etc., in this meaning.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing extraction

• dilation and extraction

Kids Definition

extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

1

: the act or process of extracting

2

: the origin of a person

of Italian extraction

Medical Definition

extraction

noun

ex·​trac·​tion ik-ˈstrak-shən 

: the act or process of extracting something

extraction of a tooth