— extractable, extractible , adj. — extractability, extractibility , n.
v. /ik strakt"/ or, esp. for 5, /ek"strakt/ ; n. /ek"strakt/ , v.t.
1. to get, pull, or draw out, usually with special effort, skill, or force: to extract a tooth.
2. to deduce (a doctrine, principle, interpretation, etc.): He extracted a completely personal meaning from what was said.
3. to derive or obtain (pleasure, comfort, etc.) from a particular source: He extracted satisfaction from the success of his sons.
4. to take or copy out (matter), as from a book.
5. to make excerpts from (a book, pamphlet, etc.).
6. to extort (information, money, etc.): to extract a secret from someone.
7. to separate or obtain (a juice, ingredient, etc.) from a mixture by pressure, distillation, treatment with solvents, or the like.
8. Math.
a. to determine (the root of a quantity that has a single root).
b. to determine (a root of a quantity that has multiple roots).
n.
9. something extracted.
10. a passage taken from a book, article, etc.; excerpt; quotation.
11. a solution or preparation containing the active principles of a drug, plant juice, or the like; concentrated solution: vanilla extract.
12. a solid, viscid, or liquid substance extracted from a plant, drug, or the like, containing its essence in concentrated form: beef extract.
[ 1375-1425; late ME extractus (ptp. of extrahere ). See EX- 1 , TRACT 1 ]
Syn. 1. pry out. 6. evoke, educe, draw out, elicit. EXTRACT, EXACT, EXTORT, WREST imply using force to remove something. To EXTRACT is to draw forth something as by pulling, importuning, or the like: to extract a confession by torture. To EXACT is to impose a penalty, or to obtain by force or authority, something to which one lays claim: to exact payment. To EXTORT is to wring something by intimidation or threats from an unwilling person: to extort money by threats of blackmail. To WREST is to take by force or violence in spite of active resistance: The courageous minority wrested power from their oppressors. 7. withdraw, distill. 10. citation, selection. 11. decoction, distillation.