8 results for: attract
at·tract
Audio Help [uh-trakt] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [uh-trakt] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
| 1. | to draw by a physical force causing or tending to cause to approach, adhere, or unite; pull (opposed to repel): The gravitational force of the earth attracts smaller bodies to it. |
| 2. | to draw by appealing to the emotions or senses, by stimulating interest, or by exciting admiration; allure; invite: to attract attention; to attract admirers by one's charm. |
| 3. | to possess or exert the power of attraction. |
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME < L attractus drawn to (ptp. of attrahere), equiv. to at- at- + trac- (var. s. of trahere to draw) + -tus ptp. suffix
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] —Related forms
at·tract·a·ble, adjective
at·tract·a·ble·ness, noun
at·tract·ing·ly, adverb
at·trac·tor, at·tract·er, noun
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
attract
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| at·tract
Audio Help (ə-trākt') Pronunciation Key
v. at·tract·ed, at·tract·ing, at·tracts v. tr.
v. intr. To possess or use the power of attraction. [Middle English attracten, from Latin attrahere, attract- : ad-, ad- + trahere, pull.] at·tract'a·ble adj. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
attract
1540, from L. attractus, pp. of attrahere "to draw, to attract," from ad- "to" + trahere "draw" (see tract (1)). Originally a medical term for the body's tendency to absorb fluids, nourishment, etc., or for a poultice treatment to "draw out" diseased matter (1563). Of the ability of people or animals to draw others to them, it is attested from 1568; of physical forces (magnetism, etc.), from 1607 (implied in attraction). Attractive in the sense of "pleasing, alluring" is from 1602. Attraction "interesting or amusing exhibition" is from 1862.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| attract | |
verb | |
| 1. | direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes; "Her good looks attract the stares of many men"; "The ad pulled in many potential customers"; "This pianist pulls huge crowds"; "The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers" [ant: beat back] |
| 2. | be attractive to; "The idea of a vacation appeals to me"; "The beautiful garden attracted many people" [ant: repel] |
| 3. | exert a force on (a body) causing it to approach or prevent it from moving away; "the gravitational pull of a planet attracts other bodies" |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
attract1 [əˈtrӕkt] verb
to cause (someone or something) to come towards
Example: A magnet attracts iron; I tried to attract her attention.
attract2 [əˈtrӕkt] verbExample: A magnet attracts iron; I tried to attract her attention.
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to arouse (someone's) liking or interest
Example: She attracted all the young men in the neighbourhood.
See also: attraction, attractiveExample: She attracted all the young men in the neighbourhood.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
Attract
At*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attracting.] [L. attractus, p. p. of attrahere; ad + trahere to draw. See Trace, v. t.]1. To draw to, or cause to tend to; esp. to cause to approach, adhere, or combine; or to cause to resist divulsion, separation, or decomposition. All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually attract themselves and one another. --Derham. 2. To draw by influence of a moral or emotional kind; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure; as, to attract admirers. Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. --Milton. Syn: To draw; allure; invite; entice; influence.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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