tract

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an extended area of land
  2. noun a system of body parts that together serve some particular purpose
  3. noun a brief treatise on a subject of interest; published in the form of a booklet

Etymology

From Middle English tract, tracte, traht (“a treatise, exposition, commentary”), from Old English traht, tract (“a treatise, exposition, commentary, text, passage”); and also from Middle English tract, tracte (“an expanse of space or time”); both from Latin tractus (“a haul, drawing, a drawing out”), the perfect passive participle of trahō. Doublet of trait.

In classic literature

Synonyms

piece of land, piece of ground, parcel of land, parcel

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