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- Dictionarypull/pʊl/
verb
- 1. exert force on (someone or something) so as to cause movement towards oneself: "he pulled them down on to 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"
- ▪ remove or extract (something) by grasping and exerting force on it: "she pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket" Similar pull outdraw outtake outextractremoveroot out
- ▪ draw (beer) from a barrel to serve: British "he ordered three beers and the barman pulled them"
- ▪ retrieve (an item of data) from the top of a stack.
- 2. move steadily in a specified direction or manner: "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. attract (someone) as a customer; cause to show interest in something: "anyone can enter the show if they have a good act and the ability to pull a crowd" Similar attractdrawpull inbring inlurecharmengageenchantcaptivatebewitchseducecatch the eye ofenticetemptbeckoninterestfascinateOpposite repel
- ▪ succeed in attracting sexually: informal British "I used my sense of humour to pull girls"
- ▪ carry out or achieve (something clever or duplicitous): informal "the magazine pulled its trick of producing the right issue at the right time"
- 4. bring out (a weapon) for use against 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 or disqualify (a player) from a game: North American "four of the leading eight runners were pulled"
- ▪ arrest: "I am never likely to get pulled for speeding"
- ▪ check the speed of (a horse), especially so as to make it lose a race.
- 7. play (the ball) round to the leg side from the off.
- ▪ strike (the ball) in the direction of one's follow-through so that it travels to the left (or, with a left-handed player, the right).
- 8. (of a lineman) withdraw from and cross behind the line of scrimmage to block opposing players and clear the way for a runner: "he may be their best ever lineman—he can run and pull with the best"
- 9. print (a proof).
noun
- 1. an act of pulling something: "give the hair a quick pull and it comes out by the roots" Similar tughauljerkheaveinformal:yank
- ▪ a handle to hold while pulling: "the car didn't have external door handles, just pulls inside"
- ▪ a deep draught of a drink: "he unscrewed the cap from the flask and took another pull" Similar gulpdraughtdrinkswallowmouthfulsipsupinformal:swillswigslugchug
- ▪ an act of inhaling while smoking a pipe, cigarette, or cigar: "he took a pull on his cheroot" Similar puffinformal:drag
- ▪ an act of moving steadily or with effort: British "a pull for ten minutes brought me to the summit"
- ▪ an injury to a muscle or ligament caused by abnormal strain: "he was ruled out of the game with a hamstring pull"
- 2. a force drawing someone or something in a particular direction: "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 employment" Similar attractionlurealluremententicementdrawing powerdrawmagnetisminfluenceenchantmentmagnettemptationinvitationfascinationappeal
- ▪ ability to exercise influence: "the team might be seeded because of their pull within soccer's international body" Similar influenceswaystrengthpowerauthoritysayprestigestandingweightleveragemuscleteethinformal:cloutbeef
- ▪ an attempt to attract someone sexually: informal British "an eligible bachelor on the pull"
- 3. (in sport) a pulling stroke.
- 4. 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
P
3U
1L
1L
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