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Added 9 October 2026

traction

/ˈtɹæk.ʃən/ noun

Latin root: tractio Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about traction at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The friction between a body and the surface on which it moves (as between an automobile tire and the road).
(orthopedics) the act of pulling on a bone or limb (as in a fracture) to relieve pressure or align parts in a special way during healing.
his leg was in traction for several days

Origin

From Medieval Latin tractio, from Latin tractus, perfect passive participle of verb trahere (“pull”), + noun of action suffix -io (genitive -ionis).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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