Extract: Pulling Something Out and Keeping the Best of It
To extract is to pull something out by effort. The noun means both a passage taken from a text and a concentrated liquid.
To extract is to draw something out where it does not come willingly: a tooth, a promise, oil from the ground. The noun keeps two of those senses at once — an extract from a book is a passage pulled out of it, and vanilla extract is flavour pulled out of a pod.
- To remove by force or effort. *Extract a tooth.*
- To obtain from a source. *Extract data from a file.*
- A passage taken from a text. *An extract from her diary.*
- A concentrated substance. *Yeast extract.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | extract | Extract the metal. |
| Past | extracted | Extracted safely. |
| Noun | extraction | Tooth extraction. |
| Noun | extract | A short extract. |
| Adjective | extractive | Extractive industries. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The dentist extracted two molars.Extraction is the formal term for pulling a tooth.
- They extracted a confession after six hours.Extract implies resistance.
- The following extract is from chapter four.Publishing use.
Extract, excerpt and quotation
- Extract — a passage taken out, often long
- Excerpt — the same idea; more common in American English
- Quotation — words repeated with attribution
- Abstract — a summary written for the purpose
- Digest — a shortened version of the whole
From Latin *extrahere*, to draw out, from *ex* (out) and *trahere* (to drag) — the same *trahere* as in *tractor*, *attract* and *contract*. Note the stress: the verb is ex-TRACT, the noun EX-tract.
Where is the stress in extract?
Verb ex-TRACT, noun EX-tract. English does this with dozens of pairs: record, present, permit.
Extract or essence in cooking?
Extract is drawn from the real ingredient. Essence is often synthetic or diluted, though labelling rules vary.