extricate

[ ek-stri-keyt ]

/ ˈɛk strɪˌkeɪt /

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verb (used with object), ex·tri·cat·ed, ex·tri·cat·ing.

to free or release from entanglement; disengage: to extricate someone from a dangerous situation.

to liberate (gas) from combination, as in a chemical process.

Nearby words

extremities, extremity, extremophile, extremum, extricable, extricate, extrication, extrinsic, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, extrinsic eye muscle, extrinsic factor

Origin of extricate

1605–15; < Latin extricātus (past participle of extricāre), equivalent to ex- ex-¹ + tric(ae) perplexities + -ātus -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR extricate

1 loose, rescue, deliver, save, recover.

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Related formsex·tri·ca·tion, nounnon·ex·tri·ca·tion, nounun·ex·tri·cat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for extricate

To extricate himself, he surrendered to the government the management of, and revenues from, most of his property.
Britain's Welfare Queen|Tom Sykes|February 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This week, Merkel ominously said she expects it will take Europe another decade to extricate itself from the crisis.
Is Europe's Troubled Marriage Doomed?|Stefan Theil|November 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
George W. Bush set the trap just over nine years ago, and the Democrats are still trying to extricate themselves.
The GOP's Fiscal Time Bomb|Howard Kurtz|December 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
A bit more urgent is how to extricate ourselves from this stinker of a GECSTGD.
Sarah Palin, the Sequel|Christopher Buckley|November 10, 2008|DAILY BEAST

From another corner he tried to extricate a half-sovereign, but it would not come, the knot was too tight.
Thereby Hangs a Tale|George Manville Fenn
Binnie was leading, and was hit in the shoulder when trying to extricate two of his patrol from a cloud of enemies.
Sixty Squadron R.A.F.|Group-Captain A. J. L. Scott
To extricate himself from the coils of the wire was a slow and painful task.
The Master Mystery|Arthur B. Reeve and John W. Grey
In passing a clump of rosebushes Tom stopped to extricate a fragment of silk from the thorns.
A Noble Woman|Ann S. Stephens
I managed to extricate myself and, dry land being near, he got up without damage.
Twelve Years of a Soldier's Life in India|W. S. R. Hodson

British Dictionary definitions for extricate

extricate

/ (ˈɛkstrɪˌkeɪt) /

verb (tr)

to remove or free from complication, hindrance, or difficulty; disentangle

Derived Formsextricable, adjectiveextrication, noun

Word Origin for extricate

C17: from Latin extrīcāre to disentangle, from ex- 1 + trīcae trifles, vexations

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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 extricate

extricate

1610s, from Latin extricatus, past participle of extricare "disentangle," perhaps from ex- "out of" + tricae (plural) "perplexities, hindrances," of unknown origin. Related: Extricated; extricating.

extricate

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Nearby words

Origin of extricate

Examples from the Web for extricate

British Dictionary definitions for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} extricate

extricate

verb (tr)

Word Origin for extricate

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Word Origin and History for extricate

extricate

British Dictionary definitions for extricate