English Dictionary

Definition of “pull”

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pull (pʊlPronunciation for pull) 

Definitions

verb (mainly tr)

  1. (also intr) to exert force on (an object) so as to draw it towards the source of the force
  2. to exert force on so as to remove; extract  ⇒ to pull a tooth 
  3. to strip of feathers, hair, etc; pluck
  4. to draw the entrails from (a fowl)
  5. to rend or tear
  6. to strain (a muscle, ligament, or tendon) injuriously
  7. (usually foll by off) informal to perform or bring about  ⇒ to pull off a million-pound deal 
  8. (often foll by on) informal to draw out (a weapon) for use  ⇒ he pulled a knife on his attacker 
  9. informal to attract  ⇒ the pop group pulled a crowd 
  10. (also intr) slang to attract (a sexual partner)
  11. (intr; usually foll by on or at) to drink or inhale deeply  ⇒ to pull at one's pipe pull on a bottle of beer 
  12. to put on or make (a grimace)  ⇒ to pull a face 
  13. (also intr; foll by away, out, over, etc) to move (a vehicle) or (of a vehicle) be moved in a specified manner  ⇒ he pulled his car away from the roadside 
  14. printing to take (a proof) from type
  15. to withdraw or remove  ⇒ the board decided to pull their support 
  16. sport to hit (a ball) so that it veers away from the direction in which the player intended to hit it (to the left for a right-handed player)
  17. cricket to hit (a ball pitched straight or on the off side) to the leg side
  18. hurling to strike (a fast-moving ball) in the same direction as it is already moving
  19. (also intr) to row (a boat) or take a stroke of (an oar) in rowing
  20. to be rowed by  ⇒ a racing shell pulls one, two, four, or eight oars 
  21. (of a rider) to restrain (a horse), esp to prevent it from winning a race
  22. (intr) (of a horse) to resist strongly the attempts of a rider to rein in or check it
  23. See pull a fast one
  24. See pull apart
  25. See pull your head in
  26. See pull one's punches
  27. See pull one's weight
  28. See pull strings
  29. See pull someone's leg

noun

  1. an act or an instance of pulling or being pulled
  2. the force or effort used in pulling  ⇒ the pull of the moon affects the tides on earth 
  3. the act or an instance of taking in drink or smoke
  4. something used for pulling, such as a knob or handle
  5. informal special advantage or influence  ⇒ his uncle is chairman of the company, so he has quite a lot of pull 
  6. informal the power to attract attention or support
  7. a period of rowing
  8. a single stroke of an oar in rowing
  9. the act of pulling the ball in golf, cricket, etc
  10. the act of checking or reining in a horse
  11. the amount of resistance in a bowstring, trigger, etc

See also

pull about , pull back , pull down , pull in , pull off , pull on , pull out , pull over , pull through , pull together , pull up

Alternative Forms

ˈpuller noun

Word Origin

Old English pullian;  related to Icelandic pūla to beat

Translations

  • British English: pull Pronunciation for pull When you pull something, you hold it and move it towards you.I helped pull him out of the water. Pull as hard as you can.pʊl VERB I helped pull him out of the water. Pull as hard as you can.
  • Spanish: tirar Pronunciation for tirar v
  • French: tirer Pronunciation for tirer vt
  • German: ziehen Pronunciation for ziehen v
  • Chinese: 拉Pronunciation for 拉 vt
  • Arabic: يَجْذِبPronunciation for يَجْذِب vt
  • Portuguese: puxarPronunciation for puxar vt
  • Russian: тянутьPronunciation for тянуть vt
  • Croatian: vućiPronunciation for vući v
  • Czech: zatáhnoutPronunciation for zatáhnout vt táhnout
  • Danish: trækkePronunciation for trække vt
  • Dutch: trekkenPronunciation for trekken vt
  • Finnish: vetääPronunciation for vetää v
  • Greek: τραβώPronunciation for τραβώ v
  • Italian: tirarePronunciation for tirare v
  • Japanese: 引くPronunciation for 引く v
  • Korean: ...을 잡아당기다Pronunciation for ...을 잡아당기다 vt
  • Norwegian: trekkePronunciation for trekke v
  • Polish: pociągnąćPronunciation for pociągnąć vt ciągnąć
  • Brazilian Portuguese: puxarPronunciation for puxar vt
  • European Spanish: tirar Pronunciation for tirar v
  • Swedish: draPronunciation for dra vt
  • Thai: ดึงPronunciation for ดึง vt
  • Turkish: çekmekPronunciation for çekmek vt
  • Vietnamese: kéoPronunciation for kéo v

Usage examples

  • He was going to pull the rope tight to make a kind of bag out of the tarpaulin, with the body inside.
    Hugo Wilcken, THE EXECUTION (2002)
  • We gained a few places and rounded the leeward mark in second, and then managed to pull away from the chasing pack.
    Yachting Boating World (2004)
  • Perhaps, given our law-abiding nature, we're just not brazen enough to pull it off.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • If you pull on the reins when the horses are swimming they will drown.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • When darkness fell around 9.30pm they planned to pull the storm jib down and bob around for the night.
    Rob Mundle, FATAL STORM (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'P'

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