I. ˈdrag, -aa(ə)g, -aig noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English dragge, probably from draggen, v.
1. : something that is dragged, pulled, or drawn along or over a surface: as
a. : harrow 1
b. chiefly New England : a sledge for conveying heavy bodies
a stone drag
c. : a steel instrument for completing the dressing of soft stone
d. : an apparatus (as a wooden or metal frame) drawn over ground (as a road) to smooth it — see drag scraper
e. : conveyance ; especially : a private coach that has seats on its top and that is usually drawn by four horses
f. : the bottom part of a foundry molding flask, mold, or pattern — called also nowel
g. : float 5d(1)
h. : a railroad car or set of cars moved usually by a switching engine from one part of a yard to another or from one yard to another
i. : crushed and broken ore found in and along a fault zone
2. : something that is used to drag with: as
a. : a device (as a wire, grapnel, net, or scoop) for dragging under water along the bottom or through the water below the surface to detect the presence of, dislodge, obtain, or recover objects
b. : the log carriage in a veneer sawmill
c.
[by shortening]
: dragrope a
3.
a. : something that retards motion: as
(1) also drag anchor : something towed in the water to retard a ship's progress or to keep her head up to the wind : sea anchor ; especially : a canvas bag with a hooped mouth used in this manner — compare drag sail
(2) : a skid for retarding the motion of a carriage wheel — called also shoe, dragshoe, skidpan
(3) : any of several adjustable devices attached to a fishing reel to prevent the spool from spinning too freely
(4)
[by shortening]
: dragbar 1
(5) : the retarding force acting on a body (as an airfoil or airplane) moving through a fluid (as air) parallel and opposite to the direction of motion : the component of the total aerodynamic force on a body parallel to the relative wind
(6) : friction especially between engine parts ; also : retardation due to friction
b. : something that hinders or obstructs nonphysical movement or progress
material … unrelated to the running narrative and a considerable drag on it — Bernard DeVoto
considered them a drag on humanity — L.G.Dernisseau
: strain , drain , burden
sustained the drag and turmoil of an active career in the deserts and marshes of Hindustan — Humphrey Bullock
counted on the continued drag of occupation costs and manpower to bring the Western Powers around — Collier's Year Book
4.
a.
(1) : the scent left by a fox or by other game : trail
(2) : an object (as a bag of aniseed) drawn over the ground to leave a scented trail for hounds to follow
(3) : the hunting with hounds upon an artificial scent
b.
(1) : a log or other heavy object fastened to a trap as a clog to prevent the escape of the trapped animal
(2) : a scented bait drawn over the area adjacent to a trap to attract a desired kind of animal to the trap
5.
a. : the act or an instance of dragging or drawing: as
(1) : a drawing along or over a surface with considerable effort or pressure
the drag of chalk on blackboard slate — Lee Anderson
: pull , tug
the beat and drag of the wind
(2) : motion effected with slowness or difficulty
it was a long drag up the hill
also : the condition or appearance of painful slowness or impeded movement
there was a drag in his walk
no torture was comparable with the drag of that single hour after luncheon — Osbert Sitwell
(3) : a draw on a pipe, cigarette, or cigar : puff
the professor took a long, deliberate drag on his five-cent cigar — O.W.Butz
also : a draft of liquid : drink
he took a drag from the glass — R.P.Warren
b. : a movement, inclination, or retardation caused by or as if by dragging: as
(1) Britain : backspin imparted to a cue ball by striking it somewhat below the center so as to cause it perceptibly to slide along the cloth and to stop dead or nearly so on striking the object ball ; also : a shot so played
(2) : an excess of draft at the stern of a ship as compared with the bow
(3) : a downward portamento in lute playing
(4) : a stroke used in playing the snare drum usually consisting of 3 or 4 grace notes preceding the beat
(5) : a bending of rock strata adjacent to a fault
(6) : a drooping or sagging : inclination , hang
an habitual drag of the lips
c.
(1) : pull exerted by the knife that causes a sliding movement of the lower sheets in a book or pile of sheets being cut typically in the direction of travel of the knife
(2) : the resistance of cotton fibers to being pulled apart
d. slang : influence securing special favor or partiality : pull
he must have lots of drag
6. : something characterized by slow retarded motion: as
a. : a slow freight train
b. West
(1) : the rear section of a herd or flock ; also : a weak or footsore animal in such a herd or flock
(2) : the men assigned to trail the drag portion of a herd
it was … hell for swing and flank and double hell for drag — A.B.Guthrie
c.
(1) : a popular dance in slow rhythm originating in New Orleans ; also : the music for such a dance
(2) or dragging step : a dance step involving the dragging of one foot after the other
7. slang : street , road
strolling up and down this bustling drag — J.P.O'Donnell
the main drag
8. slang
a. : woman's dress worn by a man
the first to perform were three queer boys who were completely in drag , with wigs, false eyelashes, high-heeled pumps and beautiful evening gowns — Polly Adler
b. : a homosexuals' party
9. slang : a girl that one is escorting : girl friend , date
cadets strolling down the walk with their drags
10. or drag race slang : an acceleration contest between automobiles, especially hot rods
II. verb
( dragged -gd ; or dialect drug ˈdrəg ; dragged or dialect drug ; dragging ; drags )
Etymology: Middle English draggen, from Old Norse draga to drag, draw, pull or Old English dragan to drag, draw — more at draw
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to pull along by main force : draw slowly or heavily : haul
drag stone
drag a net in fishing
(2) : to move (as oneself) with painful slowness or difficulty
the tired man dragged himself home
drag one foot after the other
the negotiations dragged their interminable length along
b. : to force (a person or group) by nonphysical means into or out of some situation, condition, or course of action
dragged me into a fruitless discussion
dragging his friends down to ruin with him
his infectious humor dragged me out of my black musings
did not want his country dragged into a useless war
c.
(1) : to pass (a space of time) in lingering pain, tedium, or unhappiness — used chiefly with out
dragged out his remaining years in bitter loneliness
(2) : to protract (as a narrative or musical passage) unduly or tediously — often used with out
dragged out his anecdote to an intolerable length
dragged out the florid run to impress her audience
2.
a.
(1) : a pass a drag over (as a field or dirt road)
(2) : to explore with a drag
dragged the river for the drowned boy
(3) : search : ransack
even when she dragged her mind or an excuse or even an idea, she could not unearth one — Ellen Glasgow
b. : to catch with a dragnet or trawl
3. : to smooth and pulverize (soil) by the use of a drag or harrow
4. : to retard by or as if by a drag
the singer continually dragged his tempi
5. Midland : rally , tease
6. : to dress the surface of (a stone) with a drag
7. : to apply (pigment) by drawing a loaded brush over a tacky surface so that the pigment adheres in irregular spots allowing the ground color to appear between them
8. : to hit (a bunt) especially by pulling the bat back at the moment of impact and without being squared around toward the pitcher
9. : to fly low over (an area) for the purpose of observing the surface conditions especially if an emergency landing is to be made
intransitive verb
1. : to hang or lag behind
suddenly noticed that one of the climbers was beginning to drag
specifically : to lag behind in singing or playing
a singing comedienne, she has an effective way of dragging behind the beat — New Yorker
2. : to fish or search with a drag
3.
a. : to trail along on the ground
her silken gown dragged behind her
b.
(1) : to yield or give way along the ground or along the bottom of the sea (as of an anchor that does not hold)
(2) of a ship : to drag anchor
4.
a. : to move onward heavily, laboriously, or slowly : advance with weary effort
a rheumy old man, crumpled together, bent at the shoulders, feet dragging — Elizabeth M. Roberts
: go on lingeringly
the negotiations dragged, without any prospect of an early solution
: cause tedium especially because of length or lack of interest
the last act drags terribly, and is enough to kill any play — Arnold Bennett
— often used with on or along
the ride homeward dragged on indefinitely — Sherwood Anderson
b.
(1) : to move with friction over a surface
the overturned car dragged along the street for some distance before stopping
(2) of brakes : to fail to release
5. : to make a plucking or pulling movement : tug — used chiefly with at
he plucked his thin linen trousers and dragged at his collar — Rudyard Kipling
6. : draw
drag on a cigarette
7. slang : to race with a drag
anybody's got the bug to drag can use the strip long as they have a driver's license — J.M.Flagler
Synonyms: see pull
•
- drag anchor
- drag one's feet
III. noun
1. : one that is boring or impedes the pursuit of enjoyment
their work … is a drag a good deal of the time — Nora Johnson
knows this sickly kid is going to be a social drag — Edmund Morris
2. : costume : outfit : getup
dresses hundreds in full clown drag — Bill Cardoso
3. : drag queen herein
4. : man's clothing worn by a woman
a lesbian can also wear drag ; that is … clothing designed for men — Julia P. Stanley
IV. transitive verb
1. : to extract by or as if by pulling
2. : to move (items on a computer display) especially by means of a mouse
V. adjective
Etymology: drag (I)
: of, being, involving, or intended for a person in drag
a drag ball