Word
extraction
Phoneticsex·trac·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛkˈstɹækʃən/
UK/ɛkstɹˈækʃən/
Definitions
01removal of a substance
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science
n. the process of taking something out of a surface or a substance, like oil from the ground.
n. the act of removing or obtaining something from a source by force, suction, or chemical process.
“The extraction of oil from the deep ocean floor is a difficult and expensive task.”
“The mining company faced significant environmental regulations regarding the extraction of rare earth minerals from the protected valley.”
Synonyms
02ancestry
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. a person's family background or where their ancestors came from.
n. the ethnic or national origin of a person; lineage or ancestry.
“She is of Italian extraction, though she has lived in London her whole life.”
“The historian noted that many families of French extraction settled in this region during the eighteenth century.”
Usage
Usually follows the preposition 'of'.
03military rescue
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports Technical
n. the act of moving someone from a dangerous or enemy area to a safe place.
n. the tactical removal of personnel from a hostile or hazardous environment to a secure location.
“The helicopter arrived just in time for the extraction of the trapped soldiers.”
“The special forces team coordinated a night-time extraction to retrieve the diplomats before the border was closed.”
Teaching tip
In a military context, this is the opposite of 'insertion'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
04dentistry
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. the act of a dentist pulling a tooth out of your mouth.
n. the surgical removal of a tooth from its socket in the jawbone.
“The dentist said that an extraction was necessary because the tooth was too damaged to fix.”
“Following the extraction of his wisdom teeth, the patient was advised to avoid solid foods for several days.”
05brewing coffee
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking
n. the process of drawing flavor, oils, and caffeine out of ground coffee using hot or cold water.
n. the dissolution and removal of soluble flavor compounds and solids from ground coffee beans during brewing.
“A proper extraction takes about twenty-five to thirty seconds for espresso.”
“Under-extraction yields a sour and watery cup, while over-extraction pulls bitter, astringent tannins from the coffee grounds.”
Real-World Examples
“After collecting leaf samples, Karimi brought them back to Wisconsin to be ground up for extraction.” “Extraction is the process of water dissolving compounds out of ground coffee.” “The preparation of a cup of coffee may vary between countries, cultures and individuals. Here, an analysis of nine different extraction methods is presented regarding analytical and sensory aspects for four espressi and five lunghi.” “When commercial extraction began in the 1840s, workers were not simply shoveling loose bird droppings.” Etymology
From Old French estraction, from Medieval Latin extractio.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/extraction