traction
noun/ˈtrækʃn/
/ˈtrækʃn/
[uncountable]- the action of pulling something along a surface; the power that is used for doing this
- a way of treating a broken bone in your body that involves using special equipment to pull the bone gradually back into its correct place
- in traction He spent six weeks in traction after he broke his leg.
- the force that stops something, for example the wheels of a vehicle, from sliding on the ground
- the extent to which an idea, a product, etc. becomes popular or gains support
- The president's message is gaining traction among undecided voters.
Word Originlate Middle English (denoting contraction, such as that of a muscle): from French, or from medieval Latin tractio(n-), from Latin trahere ‘draw, pull’. Current senses date from the early 19th cent.
Check pronunciation:
traction