Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Tract?

\Tract\, n. [Abbrev.fr. tractate.] A written discourse or dissertation, generally of short extent; a short treatise, especially on practical religion. The church clergy at that time writ the best collection of tracts against popery that ever appeared. --Swift. {Tracts for the Times}. See {Tractarian}.
\Tract\, n. [L. tractus a drawing, train, track, course, tract of land, from trahere tractum, to draw. Senses 4 and 5 are perhaps due to confusion with track. See {Trace},v., and cf. {Tratt}.] 1. Something drawn out or extended; expanse. ``The deep tract of hell.'' --Milton. 2. A region or quantity of land or water, of indefinite extent; an area; as, an unexplored tract of sea. A very high mountain joined to the mainland by a narrow tract of earth. --Addison. 3. Traits; features; lineaments. [Obs.] The discovery of a man's self by the tracts of his countenance is a great weakness. --Bacon. 4. The footprint of a wild beast. [Obs.] --Dryden. 5. Track; trace. [Obs.] Efface all tract of its traduction. --Sir T. Browne. But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forthon, Leaving no tract behind. --Shak. 6. Treatment; exposition. [Obs.] --Shak. 7. Continuity or extension of anything; as, the tract of speech. [Obs.] --Older. 8. Continued or protracted duration; length; extent. ``Improved by tract of time.'' --Milton. 9. (R. C. Ch.) Verses of Scripture sung at Mass, instead of the Alleluia, from Septuagesima Sunday till the Saturday befor Easter; -- so called because sung tractim, or without a break, by one voice, instead of by many as in the antiphons. Syn: Region; district; quarter; essay; treatise; dissertation.
\Tract\, v. t. To trace out; to track; also, to draw out; to protact. [Obs.] --Spenser. --B. Jonson.