traction

[ trak-shuhn ]

noun

1. the adhesive friction of a body on some surface, as a wheel on a rail or a tire on a road.
2. the action of drawing a body, vehicle, train, or the like, along a surface, as a road, track, railroad, or waterway.
3. Medicine/Medical. the deliberate and prolonged pulling of a muscle, organ, or the like, as by weights, to correct dislocation, relieve pressure, etc.
4. transportation by means of railroads.
5. the act of drawing or pulling.
6. the state of being drawn.
7. the support or momentum needed to advance something or make it successful:

   Her proposal failed to gain traction among our board members.

8. attracting power or influence; attraction:

   The main character feels the traction of fate.

traction

/ ˈtræktɪv; ˈtrækʃən /

noun

1. the act of drawing or pulling, esp by motive power
2. the state of being drawn or pulled
3. med the application of a steady pull on a part during healing of a fractured or dislocated bone, using a system of weights and pulleys or splints
4. the adhesive friction between a wheel and a surface, as between a driving wheel of a motor vehicle and the road

traction

/ trăk′shən /

1. Static friction, as of a wheel on a track or a tire on a road.
2. See more at friction
3. A sustained pulling force applied mechanically to a part of the body by means of a weighted apparatus in order to correct the position of fractured or dislocated bones, especially of the arm, leg, or neck.

Derived Forms

• tractive, adjective
• ˈtractional, adjective

Other Words From

• traction·al adjective
• non·traction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of traction¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin tractiōn- (stem of tractiō ) “act of drawing,” equivalent to tract(us) (past participle of trahere “to draw, drag, pull”) + -iōn-; -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of traction¹

C17: from Medieval Latin tractiō , from Latin tractus dragged; see tractile

Example Sentences

The practice was initially met with resistance because of its feudal undertones, but eventually it gained traction by the late 19th century, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant industries.

From Salon

Despite the show’s producers scrambling to reassure audiences of the cat’s safety, a boycott campaign has gained traction on social media.

From BBC

Once his post gained traction, he said he was messaged by representatives of the London upmarket department store.

From BBC

Could that argument gain traction after the return to the White House of Trump - a convicted felon described by his rivals as a "fascist" and a threat to democracy?

From BBC

The push to revive it gained traction during Trump’s first term with his oft-repeated complaints that America’s allies weren’t pulling their weight.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• suction