n. 1 the act of drawing or pulling a thing over a surface, esp. a road or track (steam traction). 2 a a sustained pulling on a limb, muscle, etc., by means of pulleys, weights, etc. b contraction, e.g. of a muscle. 3 the grip of a tyre on a road, a wheel on a rail, etc. 4 US the public transport service. traction-engine a steam or diesel engine for drawing heavy loads on roads, fields, etc. traction-wheel the driving-wheel of a locomotive etc. tractional adj. tractive adj.
[ F traction or med.L tractio f. L trahere tract- draw ]