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- DictionaryPull/po͝ol/
verb
- 1. exert force on (someone or something) so as to cause movement toward oneself: "he pulled them down onto the couch" Similar tughauldragdrawtrailtowheavelugstrain atjerkleverprisewrenchwresttwistpryinformal:yankOpposite push
- ▪ (of an animal or vehicle) be attached to the front and be the source of forward movement of (a vehicle): "the carriage was pulled by four horses"
- ▪ (of an engine) exert propulsive force; deliver power: "the engine warmed up quickly and pulled well"
- ▪ work oars to cause a boat to move: "he pulled at the oars and the boat moved swiftly through the water"
- ▪ move in a specified direction with effort, especially by taking hold of something and exerting force: "he pulled himself into the saddle"
- ▪ take hold of and exert force on (something) so as to move it from a specified position or in a specified direction: "she pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket" Similar pull outdraw outtake outextractremoveroot out
- ▪ retrieve (an item of data) from the top of a stack.
- 2. (of a vehicle or person) move steadily in a specified direction or to reach a specified point: "the bus was about to pull away"
- ▪ move one's body in a specified direction, especially against resistance: "she tried to pull away from him"
- 3. cause (someone) to patronize, buy, or show interest in something; attract: "tourist attractions that pull in millions of foreign visitors" Similar attractdrawpull inbring inlurecharmengageenchantcaptivatebewitchseducecatch the eye ofenticetemptbeckoninterestfascinateOpposite repel
- ▪ carry out or achieve (something requiring skill, luck, or planning): informal "the magazine pulled its trick of producing the right issue at the right time"
- 4. bring out (a weapon) to attack or threaten someone: "it's not every day a young woman pulls a gun on a burglar"
- 5. damage (a muscle, ligament, etc.) by abnormal strain: "he pulled a calf muscle in the first half of the game and had to be replaced" Similar strainsprainturnwrenchrickstretchteardislocateput out of jointdamage
- 6. cancel or withdraw (an entertainment or advertisement): informal "the gig was pulled at the first sign of difficulty"
- ▪ withdraw (a player) from a game: North American "four of the leading eight runners were pulled"
- ▪ check the speed of (a horse), especially so as to make it lose a race.
- ▪ strike (a ball) in the direction of one's follow-through so that it travels to the left or, with a left-handed player, to the right: "he pulled the ball every time he hit a grounder"
- 7. (of a lineman) withdraw from position and cross parallel to and behind the line of scrimmage to block opposing players for a runner: "he may be their best ever lineman—he can run and pull with the best"
- 8. print (a proof).
noun
- 1. an act of taking hold of something and exerting force to draw it toward one: "give the hair a quick pull and it comes out by the roots" Similar tughauljerkheaveinformal:yank
- ▪ a handle to hold while pulling: "the Cowboy Collection offers hand-forged iron drawer pulls"
- ▪ a deep draft of a drink: "he unscrewed the cap from the flask and took another pull" Similar gulpdraftdrinkswallowmouthfulsipsupinformal:swillswigslugchug
- ▪ an act of sucking at a cigar or pipe: "he took a pull on his cheroot" Similar puffinformal:drag
- ▪ an injury to a muscle or ligament caused by abnormal strain: "he was taken out of the game with a hamstring pull"
- 2. a force drawing someone or something in a particular direction or course of action: "the pull of the water tore her away"
- ▪ something exerting an influence or attraction: "one of the pulls of urban life is the opportunity of finding work" Similar attractionlurealluremententicementdrawing powerdrawmagnetisminfluenceenchantmentmagnettemptationinvitationfascinationappeal
- ▪ the condition of being able to exercise influence: "they were hamstrung without the political pull of the mayor's office" Similar influenceswaystrengthpowerauthoritysayprestigestandingweightleveragemuscleteethinformal:cloutbeef
- 3. a printer's proof.
Word Origin Old Englishpullian ‘pluck, snatch’; origin uncertain; the sense has developed from expressing a short sharp action to one of sustained force.
Derivatives
- 1. puller noun
Scrabble Points: 6
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3U
1L
1L
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