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Definition of pull noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

pull

noun
 
 
/pʊl/
 
/pʊl/
Idioms
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    trying to move something

  1.  
     [countable] an act of trying to make something move by taking hold of it and using force to bring it towards you
    • I gave the door a sharp pull and it opened.
    • One last pull on the rope should do it.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • sharp
    • strong
    • gentle
    • …
    verb + pull
    • give something
    • exert
    • feel
    • …
    preposition
    • pull at
    • pull on
    See full entry
    2.

    physical force

  2. [singular] the pull (of something) a strong physical force that makes something move in a particular direction
    • the earth’s gravitational pull
    • The tides depend on the pull of the moon.
    Topics Physics and chemistryb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • sharp
    • strong
    • gentle
    • …
    verb + pull
    • give something
    • exert
    • feel
    • …
    preposition
    • pull at
    • pull on
    See full entry
    3.

    attraction

  3. [countable, usually singular] the pull (of something) the fact of something attracting you or having a strong effect on you
    • The magnetic pull of the city was hard to resist.
    • He felt the pull of paternal love.
    Extra Examples
    • She felt the pull of her homeland.
    • It is hard to deny the emotional pull of this music.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • sharp
    • strong
    • gentle
    • …
    verb + pull
    • give something
    • exert
    • feel
    • …
    preposition
    • pull at
    • pull on
    See full entry
    4.

    influence

  4. [uncountable] (informal) power and influence over other people
    • people who have a lot of pull with the media
    5.

    on cigarette/drink

  5. [countable] pull (at/on something) an act of taking a deep breath of smoke from a cigarette, etc. or a deep drink of something
    • She took a long pull on her cigarette.
    • a pull at his flask
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • long
    verb + pull
    • take
    preposition
    • pull at
    • pull on
    See full entry
    6.

    walk up hill

  6. [countable, usually singular] (British English) a difficult walk up a steep hill
    • It's a long pull up to the summit.
    7.

    muscle injury

  7. [countable] an injury to a muscle caused by using too much forceTopics Health problemsc1

    8. handle/rope

  8. [countable] (especially in compounds) something such as a handle or rope that you use to pull something
    • a bell/door pull
    see also ring pull
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • sharp
    • strong
    • gentle
    • …
    verb + pull
    • give something
    • exert
    • feel
    • …
    preposition
    • pull at
    • pull on
    See full entry
    9. Word OriginOld English pullian ‘pluck, snatch’; origin uncertain; the sense has developed from expressing a short sharp action to one of sustained force.
Idioms
on the pull
  1. (British English, slang) (of a person) trying to find a sexual partner
See pull in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee pull in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: pull

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