traction
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the grip or friction between a wheel or shoe and the ground that prevents slipping.
n.the adhesive friction of a wheel, tyre, or sole on a surface, enabling motion without slipping.
Simple“The car lost traction on the icy road and slid into the grass.”
In context“Newer tyre compounds are designed to maintain maximum traction even when heavy rain creates a layer of water on the asphalt.”
UsageUncountable in this sense.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.the degree to which a new idea, product, or political campaign becomes popular and starts to succeed.
n.the extent to which an idea, product, or movement gains acceptance, momentum, or market share.
Simple“The startup's new app is finally gaining traction with younger users.”
In context“Despite the initial lack of interest, the senator's proposal for tax reform began to gain significant traction among moderate voters.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'gain' or 'get'.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a medical treatment where a limb is pulled slowly and steadily to help a bone heal.
n.a sustained, mechanically applied pull on a limb or the spine to treat dislocations or fractures.
Simple“He spent six weeks in traction after the accident to make sure his leg healed straight.”
In context“The orthopaedic surgeon placed the patient's leg in traction to stabilise the femur before the scheduled operation.”
UsageUsually appears in the phrase 'in traction'.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to use a machine or weights to pull a person's limb during medical treatment.
v.to apply a sustained mechanical pull to a limb or body part for therapeutic purposes.
Simple“The nurses had to traction the patient's neck to relieve the pressure on his spine.”
In context“The clinical protocol required the staff to traction the affected limb gently before applying the permanent cast.”
UsageA transitive verb used primarily in clinical documentation.
“The Belovs’ case has gained political traction in neighbouring Norway.”
“Lots of them had been set up several years before, but their content about Ceuta had gained more traction in recent weeks.”
From Medieval Latin tractio, from Latin tractus, perfect passive participle of verb trahere (“pull”), + noun of action suffix -io (genitive -ionis).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.