tract

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtrakt 

1

a

: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function

the digestive tract

b

: a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function

2

: an area either large or small: such as

a

: an indefinite stretch of land

b

: a defined area of land

3

: extent or lapse of time

tract

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a pamphlet or leaflet of political or religious propaganda

also : a piece of writing that is suggestive of such a tract

tract

3 of 3

noun (3)

often capitalized

: verses of Scripture (as from the Psalms) used between the gradual and the Gospel at some masses (as during penitential seasons)

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• belt
• corridor
• land
• neck
• part(s)
• region
• zone

Examples of tract in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a vast and fertile tract of farmland

the town had planned on turning that tract of meadow into a park

had a number of small tracts for sale, but we couldn't afford to buy land and then build a house

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Fink acknowledged the challenges of antibodies getting to the GI tract and said the company’s actively monitoring that as part of its development process. —Alex Knapp, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

These organs absorb nutrients from food and move the contents along the GI tract. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2025

For background, this is an old idea that’s become new again thanks to Utah’s politicians who maintain that the federal government never intended to own and manage large tracts of land. —Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 8 Jan. 2025

The Chicago Bears purchased a massive tract of land in the suburbs in early 2023 and have since gone through multiple variations of plans in different places and now are hoping, though not guaranteed, to start work on a lakefront stadium next year. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English tracte, from Latin tractus action of drawing, extension, from trahere to pull, draw

Noun (2)

Middle English, treatise, from Medieval Latin tractus, perhaps alteration of Latin tractatus tractate

Noun (3)

Middle English tracte, from Medieval Latin tractus, from Latin, action of drawing, extension; perhaps from its being sung without a break by one voice

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

1760, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tract

• alimentary tract
• digestive tract
• gastrointestinal tract
• lower respiratory tract
• pyramidal tract
• respiratory tract
• tract house
• upper respiratory tract

Kids Definition

tract

1 of 2 noun

ˈtrakt 

1

a

: an indefinite stretch of land

a large tract of forest

b

: a defined area of land

a garden tract

2

: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function

the digestive tract

tract

2 of 2 noun

: a pamphlet of political or religious ideas and beliefs

Medical Definition

tract

noun

ˈtrakt 

1

: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function see also digestive tract, gastrointestinal tract, lower respiratory tract, upper respiratory tract

2

: a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function and especially one within the spinal cord or brain

called also fiber tract

see also corticospinal tract, olfactory tract, optic tract, spinothalamic tract