tra-, tract-, trac-, -tractive, -traction, -tracting, treat-, trai-

1. A theorisation that is not concrete and does not relate to real objects, but expressing something that can only be appreciated intellectually: The scientific abstract that was published was very academic and challenging.
2. A concept which is not easy to understand and is based on general principles or theories rather than on specific instances: The abstract about light absorption was understood by very few people and so it was read exclusively by a select group.
3. A brief statement of the essential thoughts of a book, article, speech, court record, etc.: The clerk will prepare an abstract for the judge to read.
4. A summary of a longer text, especially of an academic article: The students were instructed to write short abstracts outlining the main points in the article that was presented to them.
5. A concept or term that does not refer to a concrete object but denotes a quality, emotion, or idea, such as truth, passion, loathing, etc.: The aria from the opera emoted on the abstracts of love, hate, and revenge.
6. A presence existing only in the mind and separated from embodiment: Clarence referred to abstracts like "truth" and "justice".
7. A work of art, especially a painting, in a style that expresses the artist’s ideas or feelings instead of showing the exact appearance of people or things and does not represent or imitate external reality or the objects of nature: The artist's style of painting could only be described as abstract; because it was so difficult to understand.
8. Etymology: the word abstract was formed from two Latin word parts, ab-, "off, away from" + tract, "to draw, to pull".

Abstract originally meant "drawn" or "taken from", such as part of a text taken or "abstracted" from a larger piece of writing. Then abstract came to mean "difficult to understand" or "pulled away from easy understanding".

Later in the late 1800s, the word's meaning changed to refer to a new artistic style, that is abstract art when it suggested that the artists' pulled away from reality and were more concerned with presenting forms and ideas than in representing actual people and things.

1. To take away; to remove without permission; to filch, to steal: While the thieves were in Dawson's house, they found and abstracted money, jewelry, and a computer from his residence.
2. To write a short summary of a speech, report, or other piece of writing: Einstein's theory of relativity is said to be abstracted from data gathered in several scientific experiments.

Ideas that exist as thoughts and which are not necessarily related to specific physical events or concrete things: Mack's abstracted thinking resulted in his forgetting to take his house keys with him when he went shopping and so he had to wait for his wife to come home before he could get in. © ALL rights are reserved.

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Pertaining to how something is said or done in an absentminded or preoccupied manner: Lorraine abstractedly answered the question as if her words were the beginning of a train of thought that were too fast to be expressed in normal speech.

A preoccupation with something to the exclusion of other things: Alan's abstractedness indicated a condition of deep absorption or thoughtfulness about other matters.

1. An idea or a way of thinking that is not related to real situations or practical experiences: The professor told his class that in some cases, "beauty" and "truth" were simply abstractions.
2. An emotional or mental condition that takes a person's attention away from what is happening around him or her: Mildred was looking out of the classroom window in abstraction whileD she was thinking about her sick mother during the teacher's presentation.
3. The act of obtaining or removing something from a source: Dr. Black told Sam, his patient, that the abstraction of the tumor during surgery went well and that it was not malignant!

Creative or cultured content that depends more on internal form rather than pictorial likeness or illustration: The student artist was told that abstractionism was simply a representation that had no particular reference to concrete objects or specific examples.

1. An artist who paints or creates art that expresses ideas and emotions by using elements of colors and lines without attempting to create a realistic picture: Lawrence's sister was a well-known abstractionist who was very creative with her unique forms and the blending of colors in her artistic endeavors.
2. Those who do not represent or imitate external reality or the objects of nature: The abstractionists were criticized for not presenting realistic ideas for improving the parks, streets, and other aspects of the city that had been deteriorating for years.

A descriptive term for anything that is concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations: There are too many abstractive definitions presented by dictionaries that are repetitious with words that include a slightly different format of the main entry and which result in definitions that are abstruse, that lack clarity, or are simply too difficult for readers to comprehend.

A process in which higher conceptions, or the time when someone creates a new idea, are derived from the usage and classification of "real" or "concrete" ideas about things or groups of things that are derived from specific instances or occurrences or by other methods: The Board of Directors were presenting investment ideas that were more in the realm of abstractiveness than of practical concepts.

1. Regarding how something is disassociated or unconnected from any specific instance: Roy abstractly communicated his feelings regarding the breakup of his marriage.
2. Pertaining to how a reference to something is difficult to understand: Lynn had difficulty comprehending the doctor's abstractly presented diagnosis of her illness.

That which is neither physical nor consisting of matter: Benjamin's abstractness was evidently a result of his being in a state of contemplation and not being connected with anything concrete or solid.

A condition of shortening and hardening of muscles, tendons, or other tissue: Acrocontrctures often lead to deformity and rigidity as a result of spasms or the thickening and scarring of connective tissue. And this usually occurs because of an injury or because of the lack of muscular balance of the joints of the hands or feet.

1. To cause to draw near or to adhere to by physical force: "The magnetic poles are attracted to their opposites."
2. To arouse or to compel the interest, admiration, or attention of: "We were attracted to the display of lights."

If a girl attracts admirers, she draws them toward her.

1. Regarding something which can pull or adhere by physical power: Some screwdrivers are quite attractable in that the they possess a magnetic quality of having steel nails cling to them.

The magnetic pins that Lynn bought cling beautifully to the attractable metal door frames!
2. Referring to something or someone that has the power to appeal, allure, or to entice: Valerie's charm and humor were quite attractable to those who knew her and everybody always had a good time when they got together.