English Reference
noun

tract

n.
US /ˈtɹækt/ UK /tɹˈækt/ tract UK spelling tract's, tract's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a large area of land, especially one that is not built on.

    an expansive area or stretch of land, often used in the context of development or natural geography.

    Simple

    The company bought a large tract of land to build a new housing estate.

    In context

    Conservationists are fighting to protect this vast tract of untouched forest from industrial logging and agricultural expansion.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Medicine

    a system of connected organs in the body that have a specific job.

    a system of connected organs and structures that perform a collective physiological function.

    Simple

    Drinking plenty of water is good for your digestive tract.

    In context

    The patient was diagnosed with an infection of the upper respiratory tract, requiring a course of targeted antibiotics.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal

    a short piece of writing, usually a booklet, that explains a religious or political idea.

    a brief treatise or pamphlet, typically one used for religious or political persuasion.

    Simple

    He spent his weekends handing out religious tracts on the street corner.

    In context

    The library archives contain several radical political tracts published during the late eighteenth century that influenced the revolutionary movement.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency LiteraryArchaic

    a long period or stretch of time.

    a protracted or continued duration of time.

    Simple

    In the long tract of time, many ancient cities have been forgotten.

    In context

    The poet reflects on the vast tract of years that have passed since he last visited his childhood home.

The human body is teeming with more than 35 trillion bacteria, coexisting in microbiomes inside the gut, mouth, lungs, skin and urogenital tract.

Phys.org· 14 Aug 2026

One possibility is that working together improves movement through the reproductive tract.

ScienceDaily· 6 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated