Ex*tract" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Extracted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Extracting.] [L. extractus, p. p. of extrahere
to extract; ex out + trahere to draw. See Trace,
and cf. Estreat.] 1. To draw out or
forth; to pull out; to remove forcibly from a fixed position, as by
traction or suction, etc.; as, to extract a tooth from its
socket, a stump from the earth, a splinter from the finger.
The bee
Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet.
Milton.
2. To withdraw by expression, distillation,
or other mechanical or chemical process; as, to extract an
essence. Cf. Abstract, v. t., 6.
Sunbeams may be extracted from cucumbers, but
the process is tedious.
3. To take by selection; to choose out; to
cite or quote, as a passage from a book.
I have extracted out of that pamphlet a few
notorious falsehoods.
Swift.
To extract the root (Math.), to
ascertain the root of a number or quantity.
Ex"tract` (?), n. 1.
That which is extracted or drawn out.
2. A portion of a book or document,
separately transcribed; a citation; a quotation.
3. A decoction, solution, or infusion made by
drawing out from any substance that which gives it its essential and
characteristic virtue; essence; as, extract of beef;
extract of dandelion; also, any substance so extracted, and
characteristic of that from which it is obtained; as, quinine is the
most important extract of Peruvian bark.
4. (Med.) A solid preparation obtained
by evaporating a solution of a drug, etc., or the fresh juice of a
plant; -- distinguished from an abstract. See Abstract,
n., 4.
5. (Old Chem.) A peculiar principle
once erroneously supposed to form the basis of all vegetable
extracts; -- called also the extractive principle.
[Obs.]
6. Extraction; descent. [Obs.]
South.
7. (Scots Law) A draught or copy of
writing; certified copy of the proceedings in an action and the
judgement therein, with an order for execution.
Tomlins.
Fluid extract (Med.), a concentrated
liquid preparation, containing a definite proportion of the active
principles of a medicinal substance. At present a fluid gram of
extract should represent a gram of the crude drug.
