traction

American  

[trak-shuhn] / ˈtræk ʃən /

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.

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traction British  

/ 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

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traction Scientific  

/ 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.

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Other Word Forms

• nontraction noun
• tractional adjective
• tractive adjective

Etymology

Origin of traction

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

Example Sentences

Domestic value brands have gained traction, while premium foreign labels face stiffer scrutiny.

From MarketWatch

“With inflation concerns easing, Treasuries are regaining traction as a viable hedge during risk‐off episodes, reinforcing the USD’s safe‐haven appeal,” they add.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We sense that investors are eagerly awaiting a growth reacceleration and until that is proven out, the stock may be rangebound as concerns about the core business and AI traction prevail,” Bhatia wrote.

From MarketWatch

He said that based on his conversations, the company is benefiting from tailwinds in the data-modernization space and that its AI products are gaining early traction.

From MarketWatch

“The policy environment has shifted toward prioritizing AI competitiveness and economic growth, while safety-oriented discussions have yet to gain meaningful traction at the federal level,” Anthropic said in a blog post announcing the changes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• suction