abduct

verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt 

əb-;

sense 2 also

ˈab-ˌdəkt 

abducted; abducting; abducts

transitive verb

1

: to seize and take away (a person) by force

The girl was abducted by kidnappers.

2

: to draw or spread away (a part of the body, such as a limb or the fingers) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body or from the axis of a limb

a muscle that abducts the arm

abductor

ab-ˈdək-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• kidnap

Examples of abduct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The dozens of migrants who spoke to ProPublica after being abducted in southern Mexico said that in most cases, after paying the ransom, the kidnappers arranged for them to be driven to Tapachula. —Emily Green, ProPublica, 1 Nov. 2024

The 65-year-old wrote about being abducted and raped by the Clown Killer — who raped and murdered at least 33 young men and boys in the Chicago area from 1972 until 1978 — and how the terrifying incident continues to shape his life in a PEOPLE article published on Thursday. —EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024

Belgium is approaching the 30th anniversary of the start of a dark chapter in its history in which pedophile Marc Dutroux abducted six young girls from June 1995 to August 1996. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2024

More than 42,000 Palestinian people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, according to the local Health Ministry, while 101 people abducted from Israel are believed to remain hostages of Hamas in the enclave. —Ece Yildirim,ruxandra Iordache,natasha Turak, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin abdūctus, past participle of abdūcere "to draw (a limb) away from the body," going back to Latin "to lead away, carry off, remove, entice away," from ab- ab- + dūcere "to lead" — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

abduct

verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt 

1

: to carry (a person) off by force

2

: to draw (a part of the body) away from a middle plane or line that divides the body or a bodily part into right and left halves

abduction

-ˈdək-shən

noun

Medical Definition

abduct

transitive verb

ab·​duct

ab-ˈdəkt, əb- also ˈab-ˌ

: to draw away (as a limb) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body

the peroneus longus extends, abducts, and everts the foot

—C. R. Bardeen

also : to move (similar parts) apart

abduct adjoining fingers

abduction

ab-ˈdək-shən, əb- 

noun

Legal Definition

abduct

transitive verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt, əb- 

: to carry or lead (a person) away by threat or use of force or often by fraud

also : to restrain or conceal (a person) for the purpose of preventing escape or rescue see also kidnapping

abductor

-ˈdək-tər 

noun