Adjacent Words

Pull definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PULL, v.t. [L. vello.]
1. To draw; to draw towards one or to make an effort to draw. Pull differs from draw; we use draw when motion follows the effort, and pull is used in the same sense; but we may also pull forever without drawing or moving the thing. This distinction may not be universal. Pull is opposed to push.
Then he put forth his hand and took her and pulled her in to him into the ark. Genesis 8.
2. To pluck; to gather by drawing or forcing off or out; as, to pull fruit; to pull flax.
3. To tear; to rend; but in this sense followed by some qualifying word or phrase; as, to pull in pieces; to pull asunder or apart. To pull in two, is to separate or tear by violence into two parts.
To pull down, to demolish or to take in pieces by separating the parts; as, to pull down a house.
1. To demolish; to subvert; to destroy.
In political affairs, as well as mechanical, it is easier to pull down than to build up.
2. To bring down; to degrade; to humble.
To raise the wretched and pull down the proud.
pull off, to separate by pulling; to pluck; also, to take off without force; as, to pull off a coat or hat.
To pull out, to draw out; to extract.
To pull up, to pluck up; to tear up by the roots; hence, to extirpate; to eradicate; to destroy.
PULL, n. The act of pulling or drawing with force; an effort to move by drawing towards one.
1. A contest; a struggle.
2. Pluck; violence suffered.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you; "the pull up the hill had him breathing harder"; "his strenuous pulling strained his back" [syn: pull, pulling]
2: the force used in pulling; "the pull of the moon"; "the pull of the current"
3: special advantage or influence; "the chairman's nephew has a lot of pull" [syn: pull, clout]
4: a device used for pulling something; "he grabbed the pull and opened the drawer"
5: a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments; "the wrench to his knee occurred as he fell"; "he was sidelined with a hamstring pull" [syn: wrench, twist, pull]
6: a slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke); "he took a puff on his pipe"; "he took a drag on his cigarette and expelled the smoke slowly" [syn: puff, drag, pull]
7: a sustained effort; "it was a long pull but we made it" v
1: cause to move by pulling; "draw a wagon"; "pull a sled" [syn: pull, draw, force] [ant: force, push]
2: direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes; "Her good looks attract the stares of many men"; "The ad pulled in many potential customers"; "This pianist pulls huge crowds"; "The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers" [syn: attract, pull, pull in, draw, draw in] [ant: beat back, drive, force back, push back, repel, repulse]
3: move into a certain direction; "the car pulls to the right"
4: apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion; "Pull the rope"; "Pull the handle towards you"; "pull the string gently"; "pull the trigger of the gun"; "pull your knees towards your chin"
5: perform an act, usually with a negative connotation; "perpetrate a crime"; "pull a bank robbery" [syn: perpetrate, commit, pull]
6: bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover; "draw a weapon"; "pull out a gun"; "The mugger pulled a knife on his victim" [syn: draw, pull, pull out, get out, take out]
7: steer into a certain direction; "pull one's horse to a stand"; "Pull the car over"
8: strain abnormally; "I pulled a muscle in my leg when I jumped up"; "The athlete pulled a tendon in the competition" [syn: pull, overstretch]
9: cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense; "A declining dollar pulled down the export figures for the last quarter" [syn: pull, draw]
10: operate when rowing a boat; "pull the oars"
11: rein in to keep from winning a race; "pull a horse"
12: tear or be torn violently; "The curtain ripped from top to bottom"; "pull the cooked chicken into strips" [syn: rend, rip, rive, pull]
13: hit in the direction that the player is facing when carrying through the swing; "pull the ball"
14: strip of feathers; "pull a chicken"; "pluck the capon" [syn: pluck, pull, tear, deplume, deplumate, displume]
15: remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense; "pull weeds"; "extract a bad tooth"; "take out a splinter"; "extract information from the telegram" [syn: extract, pull out, pull, pull up, take out, draw out]
16: take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for; "We all rooted for the home team"; "I'm pulling for the underdog"; "Are you siding with the defender of the title?" [syn: pull, root for]
17: take away; "pull the old soup cans from the supermarket shelf"

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pullian; akin to Middle Low German pulen to shell, cull Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to exert force upon so as to cause or tend to cause motion toward the force b. to stretch (cooling candy) repeatedly <pull taffy> c. to strain abnormally <pull a tendon> d. to hold back (a racehorse) from winning e. to work (an oar) by drawing back strongly 2. a. to draw out from the skin <pull feathers from a rooster's tail> b. to pluck from a plant or by the roots <pull flowers> <pull turnips> c. extract <pull a tooth> 3. to hit (a ball) toward the left from a right-handed swing or toward the right from a left-handed swing — compare push 4. to draw apart ; rend, tear 5. to print (as a proof) by impression 6. to remove from a place or situation <pull the engine> <pulled the pitcher in the third inning> <pulled the show> 7. to bring (a weapon) into the open <pulled a knife> 8. a. perform, carry out <pull an all-nighter> <pull guard duty> b. commit, perpetrate <pull a robbery> <pull a prank> 9. a. put on, assume <pull a grin> b. to act or behave in the manner of <pulled a Horace Greely and went west — Steve Rushin> 10. a. to draw the support or attention of ; attract <pull votes> — often used with in b. obtain, secure <pulled a B in the course> 11. to demand or obtain an advantage over someone by the assertion of <pull rank> intransitive verb 1. a. to use force in drawing, dragging, or tugging b. to move especially through the exercise of mechanical energy <the car pulled clear of the rut> c. (1) to take a drink (2) to draw hard in smoking <pulled at a pipe> d. to strain against the bit 2. to draw a gun 3. to admit of being pulled 4. to feel or express strong sympathy ; root <pulling for my team to win> 5. of an offensive lineman in football to move back from the line of scrimmage and toward one flank to provide blocking for a ballcarrier • puller noun II. noun Usage: often attributive Date: 14th century 1. a. the act or an instance of pulling b. (1) a draft of liquid (2) an inhalation of smoke c. the effort expended in moving <a long pull uphill> d. force required to overcome resistance to pulling <a trigger with a four pound pull> 2. a. advantage b. special influence 3. proof 6a 4. a device for pulling something or for operating by pulling <a drawer pull> 5. a force that attracts, compels, or influences ; attraction 6. an injury resulting from abnormal straining or stretching <a muscle pull> <a groin pull>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. exert force upon (a thing) tending to move it to oneself or the origin of the force (stop pulling my hair). 2 tr. cause to move in this way (pulled it nearer; pulled me into the room). 3 intr. exert a pulling force (the horse pulls well; the engine will not pull). 4 tr. extract (a cork or tooth) by pulling. 5 tr. damage (a muscle etc.) by abnormal strain. 6 a tr. move (a boat) by pulling on the oars. b intr. (of a boat etc.) be caused to move, esp. in a specified direction. 7 intr. (often foll. by up) proceed with effort (up a hill etc.). 8 tr. (foll. by on) bring out (a weapon) for use against (a person). 9 a tr. check the speed of (a horse), esp. so as to make it lose the race. b intr. (of a horse) strain against the bit. 10 tr. attract or secure (custom or support). 11 tr. draw (liquor) from a barrel etc. 12 intr. (foll. by at) tear or pluck at. 13 intr. (often foll. by on, at) inhale deeply; draw or suck (on a pipe etc.). 14 tr. (often foll. by up) remove (a plant) by the root. 15 tr. a Cricket strike (the ball) to the leg side. b Golf strike (the ball) widely to the left. 16 tr. print (a proof etc.). 17 tr. colloq. achieve or accomplish (esp. something illicit). --n. 1 the act of pulling. 2 the force exerted by this. 3 a means of exerting influence; an advantage. 4 something that attracts or draws attention. 5 a deep draught of liquor. 6 a prolonged effort, e.g. in going up a hill. 7 a handle etc. for applying a pull. 8 a spell of rowing. 9 a printer's rough proof. 10 Cricket & Golf a pulling stroke. 11 a suck at a cigarette. Phrases and idioms: pull about 1 treat roughly. 2 pull from side to side. pull apart (or to pieces) = take to pieces (see PIECE). pull back retreat or cause to retreat. pull-back n. 1 a retarding influence. 2 a withdrawal of troops. pull down 1 demolish (esp. a building). 2 humiliate. 3 colloq. earn (a sum of money) as wages etc. pull a face assume a distinctive or specified (e.g. sad or angry) expression. pull a fast one see FAST(1). pull in 1 (of a bus, train, etc.) arrive to take passengers. 2 (of a vehicle) move to the side of or off the road. 3 earn or acquire. 4 colloq. arrest. pull-in n. Brit. a roadside café or other stopping-place. pull a person's leg deceive a person playfully. pull off 1 remove by pulling. 2 succeed in achieving or winning. pull oneself together recover control of oneself. pull the other one colloq. expressing disbelief (with ref. to pull a person's leg). pull out 1 take out by pulling. 2 depart. 3 withdraw from an undertaking. 4 (of a bus, train, etc.) leave with its passengers. 5 (of a vehicle) move out from the side of the road, or from its normal position to overtake. pull-out n. something that can be pulled out, esp. a section of a magazine. pull over (of a vehicle) pull in. pull the plug on colloq. defeat, discomfit. pull one's punches avoid using one's full force. pull rank take unfair advantage of one's seniority. pull round (or through) recover or cause to recover from an illness. pull strings exert (esp. clandestine) influence. pull the strings be the real actuator of what another does. pull together work in harmony. pull up 1 stop or cause to stop moving. 2 pull out of the ground. 3 reprimand. 4 check oneself. pull one's weight do one's fair share of work. pull wires esp. US = pull strings. Derivatives: puller n. Etymology: OE (a)pullian, perh. rel. to LG pulen, MDu. polen to shell

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pull Pull, n. 1. The act of pulling or drawing with force; an effort to move something by drawing toward one. I awakened with a violent pull upon the ring which was fastened at the top of my box. --Swift. 2. A contest; a struggle; as, a wrestling pull. --Carew. 3. A pluck; loss or violence suffered. [Poetic] Two pulls at once; His lady banished, and a limb lopped off. --Shak. 4. A knob, handle, or lever, etc., by which anything is pulled; as, a drawer pull; a bell pull. 5. The act of rowing; as, a pull on the river. [Colloq.] 6. The act of drinking; as, to take a pull at the beer, or the mug. [Slang] --Dickens. 7. Something in one's favor in a comparison or a contest; an advantage; means of influencing; as, in weights the favorite had the pull. [Slang] 8. (Cricket) A kind of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the side. The pull is not a legitimate stroke, but bad cricket. --R. A. Proctor.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pull Pull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pulled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pulling.] [AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.] 1. To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly. Ne'er pull your hat upon your brows. --Shak. He put forth his hand . . . and pulled her in. --Gen. viii. 9. 2. To draw apart; to tear; to rend. He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate. --Lam. iii. 11. 3. To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward one; to pluck; as, to pull fruit; to pull flax; to pull a finch. 4. To move or operate by the motion of drawing towards one; as, to pull a bell; to pull an oar. 5. (Horse Racing) To hold back, and so prevent from winning; as, the favorite was pulled. 6. (Print.) To take or make, as a proof or impression; -- hand presses being worked by pulling a lever. 7. (Cricket) To strike the ball in a particular manner. See Pull, n., 8. Never pull a straight fast ball to leg. --R. H. Lyttelton. To pull and haul, to draw hither and thither. `` Both are equally pulled and hauled to do that which they are unable to do. '' --South. To pull down, to demolish; to destroy; to degrade; as, to pull down a house. `` In political affairs, as well as mechanical, it is easier to pull down than build up.'' --Howell. `` To raise the wretched, and pull down the proud.'' --Roscommon. To pull a finch. See under Finch. To pull off, take or draw off.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pull Pull, v. i. To exert one's self in an act or motion of drawing or hauling; to tug; as, to pull at a rope. To pull apart, to become separated by pulling; as, a rope will pull apart. To pull up, to draw the reins; to stop; to halt. To pull through, to come successfully to the end of a difficult undertaking, a dangerous sickness, or the like.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(pulls, pulling, pulled) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. When you pull something, you hold it firmly and use force in order to move it towards you or away from its previous position. They have pulled out patients' teeth unnecessarily... Erica was solemn, pulling at her blonde curls... I helped pull him out of the water... Someone pulled her hair... He knew he should pull the trigger, but he was suddenly paralysed by fear... Pull as hard as you can... I let myself out into the street and pulled the door shut. VERB: V n with adv, V prep, V n prep, V n, V n, V, V n adj • Pull is also a noun. The feather must be removed with a straight, firm pull. N-COUNT: usu sing 2. When you pull an object from a bag, pocket, or cupboard, you put your hand in and bring the object out. Jack pulled the slip of paper from his shirt pocket... Wade walked quickly to the refrigerator and pulled out another beer. VERB: V n prep, V n with adv 3. When a vehicle, animal, or person pulls a cart or piece of machinery, they are attached to it or hold it, so that it moves along behind them when they move forward. This is early-20th-century rural Sussex, when horses still pulled the plough... VERB: V n 4. If you pull yourself or pull a part of your body in a particular direction, you move your body or a part of your body with effort or force. Hughes pulled himself slowly to his feet... He pulled his arms out of the sleeves... She tried to pull her hand free... Lillian brushed his cheek with her fingertips. He pulled away and said, 'Don't!' VERB: V pron-refl prep/adv, V n prep/adv, V n adj, V adv 5. When a driver or vehicle pulls to a stop or a halt, the vehicle stops. He pulled to a stop behind a pickup truck... VERB: V prep 6. In a race or contest, if you pull ahead of or pull away from an opponent, you gradually increase the amount by which you are ahead of them. He pulled away, extending his lead to 15 seconds... VERB: V adv 7. If you pull something apart, you break or divide it into small pieces, often in order to put them back together again in a different way. If I wanted to improve the car significantly I would have to pull it apart and start again. VERB: V n with adv 8. If someone pulls a gun or a knife on someone else, they take out a gun or knife and threaten the other person with it. (INFORMAL) They had a fight. One of them pulled a gun on the other... I pulled a knife and threatened her. VERB: V n on n, V n 9. To pull crowds, viewers, or voters means to attract them. (INFORMAL) The organisers have to employ performers to pull a crowd. VERB: V n • Pull in means the same as pull. They provided a far better news service and pulled in many more viewers... She is still beautiful, and still pulling them in at sixty. PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P 10. A pull is a strong physical force which causes things to move in a particular direction. ...the pull of gravity. N-COUNT 11. If you pull a muscle, you injure it by straining it. Dave pulled a back muscle and could barely kick the ball... He suffered a pulled calf muscle. VERB: V n, V-ed 12. To pull a stunt or a trick on someone means to do something dramatic or silly in order to get their attention or trick them. (INFORMAL) Everyone saw the stunt you pulled on me. VERB: V n on n, also V n 13. If someone pulls someone else, they succeed in attracting them sexually and in spending the rest of the evening or night with them. (BRIT INFORMAL) VERB: V n, V 14. to pull oneself up by one's bootstraps: see bootstraps to pull a face: see face to pull someone's leg: see leg to pull your punches: see punch to pull rank: see rank to pull out all the stops: see stop to pull strings: see string to pull your weight: see weight to pull the wool over someone's eyes: see wool

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Pluck, shake, twitch. 2. Contest, struggle. 3. Hap, venture, chance (colloq.). II. v. a. 1. Draw, haul, tug, drag. 2. Pluck, gather. 3. Tear, rend, draw apart. III. v. n. Tug, give a pull.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To be pulled; to be arrested by a police officer. To have a pull is to have an advantage; generally where a person has some superiority at a game of chance or skill.

Moby Thesaurus

abandon, accomplish, adduct, adduction, affinity, allure, allurement, amperage, appeal, apprehend, armipotence, arrest, arrive, assume, attack, attract, attractance, attraction, attractiveness, attractivity, authority, avulse, back away, back off, back out, backstairs influence, be magnetic, be paid, beat a retreat, beat it, beef, bend, beverage, bias, bib, black power, blue, blueprint, boost, booze, bridle, bring off, bring out, brute force, buck up, bumper, bust, call, campaign for, capillarity, capillary attraction, captivate, capture, carry out, catch, catch a crab, centripetal force, chaff, chain-smoke, charge, charisma, chaw, check, chew, clout, cogence, cogency, cold-type proof, collar, color proof, come, come up to, complete, compulsion, computer proof, connections, constrain, contain, continue, control, cool, cool off, criticize, crook, cull, curb, curtail, curve, cut a crab, cut out, debase, decelerate, deflect, degrade, demolish, depart, deracinate, destroy, detach, devastate, deviate, diffract, diffuse, dig out, dig up, diminish, dint, discredit, disentangle, disgrace, dishonor, disperse, distort, diverge, divert, do, dogleg, dompt, draft, drag, drag out, draggle, drain the cup, dram, draw, draw back, draw in, draw out, draw towards, draw up, drawing, drawing power, drayage, dredge, dredge up, drench, drink, drink in, drink off, drink to, drink up, drive, drop, duress, earn, effect, effectiveness, effectuality, elongate, encourage, energy, engrave, enjoin, entice, eradicate, evacuate, evolve, evulse, excavate, excise, exsect, extend, extract, extraction, extricate, fall back, fascinate, favor, feather, feather an oar, flay, flee, flower power, force, force majeure, forcefulness, foundry proof, full blast, full force, gain, galley, galley proof, gargle, get, get better, get out, give up, give way, go, go and do, gouge out, govern, gravitation, gravity, grub up, guard, gulp, guzzle, hairpin, hale, halt, haul, haulage, hauling, have, have an attraction, have on, heave, heaving, hectograph, hinder, hold, hold at bay, hold back, hold fast, hold in, hold in leash, hold up, hoodwink, hope for, humiliate, imbibe, impel, impress, imprint, improve, in, influence, inhalation, inhale, inhale snuff, inhibit, inside track, interest, issue, jerk, jigger, jolt, jump, keep, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep under control, knock, land, lap, lay under restraint, leave, lengthen, lengthen out, let out, level, leverage, libation, live, lower, lug, lure, magnet, magnetism, magnetize, main force, main strength, make fun of, mana, manage, might, might and main, mightiness, mimeograph, mine, moxie, multigraph, muscle, muscle power, mutual attraction, nab, nail, nick, nip, oar, obtain, outpace, outrun, overexert, overexertion, overextend, overextension, overprint, overstrain, overstress, overtax, overtaxing, pace, paddle, page proof, pan, peg, perform, perpetrate, persuasion, pick out, pick up, pinch, pizzazz, plate proof, pledge, pluck, pluck out, pluck up, ply the oar, poke fun at, poop, portion, potation, potence, potency, potentiality, potion, power, power pack, power structure, power struggle, powerfulness, prepotency, press, press proof, prestige, print, procure, produce, productiveness, productivity, progressive proof, prohibit, prolong, prolongate, proof, proof sheet, protract, prove, publish, puff, puissance, pull a proof, pull apart, pull away, pull back, pull down, pull for, pull in, pull off, pull out, pull strings, pull through, pull to pieces, pull towards, pull up, pulling, pulling power, punch, punt, push, put down, put on, put out, put to bed, put to press, quaff, quarry, quit, rack, rag, rake out, rally, raze, reach, recede, receive, recoil, recover, recuperate, reduce, refract, rein, rein in, reissue, relinquish, remove, rend, reprint, repro proof, restrain, retard, retreat, retrench, revise, rib, ridicule, rip off, rip out, root for, root out, root up, round, round of drinks, row, row away, row dry, run, run down, run off, scatter, scull, secure, seduction, seductiveness, select, separate, set back, ship oars, shoot, shot, shove, shy, sinew, sip, skew, sky an oar, slam, slate, slip, slow down, slurp, smoke, snake, snifter, snort, snub, special favor, spin out, spot, stamp, start, steam, stone proof, stop, strain, strain every nerve, straining, straiten, strength, stress, stress and strain, stressfulness, stretch, stretch out, strike, string out, strong arm, succeed, suck, suck in, suckle, suction, sup, superiority, superpower, support, survive, sweat blood, swig, swill, sympathy, take flight, take in tow, take into custody, take off, take on, take out, take snuff, tauten, tax, taxing, tear, tear off, tear out, tease, tense, tension, tighten, tipple, toast, toss down, toss off, tot, tow, towage, towing, traction, tractive power, trail, train, trawl, trial impression, troll, tug, tug-of-war, tugging, turn, turn tail, twist, twit, unearth, unravel, uproot, validity, vandyke, vehemence, vigor, vim, virility, virtue, virulence, vitality, warp, wash down, wattage, weed out, weight, wet, win, wire-pulling, withdraw, withhold, wreck, wrench, wrest out, yank, zigzag