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definitions

abduct

[ ab-duhkt ]
/ æbˈdʌkt /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR abduct ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to carry off or lead away (a person) illegally and in secret or by force, especially to kidnap.
Physiology. to move or draw away from the axis of the body or limb (opposed to adduct).

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RELATED WORDS

snatch, kidnap, seize, grab, shanghai, remove, sneeze, dognap

Nearby words

  1. abducens,
  2. abducens nerve,
  3. abducens oculi,
  4. abducent,
  5. abducent nerve,
  6. abductee,
  7. abduction,
  8. abductor,
  9. abductor muscle of big toe,
  10. abductor muscle of little finger

Origin of abduct

1825–35; < Latin abductus, past participle of abdūcere to abduce
Related formsun·ab·duct·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for abduct

British Dictionary definitions for abduct

abduct

/ (æbˈdʌkt) /

verb (tr)

to remove (a person) by force or cunning; kidnap
(of certain muscles) to pull (a leg, arm, etc) away from the median axis of the bodyCompare adduct
Derived Formsabductor, noun

Word Origin for abduct

C19: from the past participle of Latin abdūcere to lead away
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for abduct

abduct

v.

"to kidnap," 1834, probably a back-formation from abduction; cf. abduce. Related: Abducted; abducting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for abduct

abduct

[ ăb-dŭkt′ ]

v.

To draw away from the midline of the body or from an adjacent part or limb.
Related formsab•duc′tion n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.