tract 1
/trakt/ , n.
1. an expanse or area of land, water, etc.; region; stretch.
2. Anat.
a. a definite region or area of the body, esp. a group, series, or system of related parts or organs: the digestive tract.
b. a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin and destination.
3. a stretch or period of time; interval; lapse.
4. Rom. Cath. Ch. an anthem consisting of verses of Scripture, sung after the gradual in the Mass from Septuagesima until the day before Easter and on certain other occasions, taking the place of the alleluias and the verse that ordinarily accompany the gradual.
5. Ornith. a pteryla.
[ 1350-1400; (in senses referring to extent of space) tractus stretch (of space or time), a drawing out, equiv. to trac-, var. s. of trahere to draw + -tus suffix of v. action; (def. 4) tractus, appar. identical with the above, though literal sense unexplained ]
Syn. 1. district, territory.
tract 2
/trakt/ , n.
a brief treatise or pamphlet for general distribution, usually on a religious or political topic.
[ 1400-50; late ME tracte, appar. shortening of ML tractatus TRACTATE ]
Syn . essay, homily, disquisition.