What does "tract" mean?

Tract: Something drawn out or extended; expanse. "The deep tract of hell." Milton.

Additional senses

  1. 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 narrowtract of earth. Addison.
  2. 3.Traits; features; lineaments. [Obs.] The discovery of a man's self by the tracts of his countenance is a great weakness. Bacon.
  3. 4.The footprint of a wild beast. [Obs.] Dryden.
  4. 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.
  5. 6.Treatment; exposition. [Obs.] Shak.
  6. 7.Continuity or extension of anything; as, the tract of speech. [Obs.] Older.
  7. 8.Continued or protracted duration; length; extent. "Improved by tract of time." Milton.
  8. 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.
  9. 10.To trace out; to track; also, to draw out; to protact. [Obs.] Spenser. B. Jonson.

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