4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Tract  \Tract\,  v.  t. 
  To  trace  out  to  track;  also  to  draw  out  to  protact.  [Obs.] 
  --Spenser.  --B.  Jonson 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Tract  \Tract\,  n.  [L.  tractus  a  drawing,  train,  track,  course, 
  tract  of  land,  from  trahere  tractum  to  draw.  Senses  4  and  5 
  are  perhaps  due  to  confusion  with  track.  See  {Trace},v.,  and 
  cf  {Tratt}.] 
  1.  Something  drawn  out  or  extended;  expanse.  ``The  deep  tract 
  of  hell.''  --Milton. 
 
  2.  A  region  or  quantity  of  land  or  water,  of  indefinite 
  extent;  an  area;  as  an  unexplored  tract  of  sea. 
 
  A  very  high  mountain  joined  to  the  mainland  by  a 
  narrow  tract  of  earth.  --Addison. 
 
  3.  Traits;  features;  lineaments.  [Obs.] 
 
  The  discovery  of  a  man's  self  by  the  tracts  of  his 
  countenance  is  a  great  weakness.  --Bacon. 
 
  4.  The  footprint  of  a  wild  beast.  [Obs.]  --Dryden. 
 
  5.  Track;  trace.  [Obs.] 
 
  Efface  all  tract  of  its  traduction.  --Sir  T. 
  Browne. 
 
  But  flies  an  eagle  flight,  bold,  and  forthon, 
  Leaving  no  tract  behind.  --Shak. 
 
  6.  Treatment;  exposition.  [Obs.]  --Shak. 
 
  7.  Continuity  or  extension  of  anything  as  the  tract  of 
  speech.  [Obs.]  --Older. 
 
  8.  Continued  or  protracted  duration;  length;  extent. 
  ``Improved  by  tract  of  time.''  --Milton. 
 
  9.  (R.  C.  Ch.)  Verses  of  Scripture  sung  at  Mass,  instead  of 
  the  Alleluia,  from  Septuagesima  Sunday  till  the  Saturday 
  befor  Easter;  --  so  called  because  sung  tractim  or 
  without  a  break,  by  one  voice,  instead  of  by  many  as  in 
  the  antiphons. 
 
  Syn:  Region;  district;  quarter;  essay;  treatise; 
  dissertation. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Tract  \Tract\,  n.  [Abbrev.fr.  tractate.] 
  A  written  discourse  or  dissertation,  generally  of  short 
  extent;  a  short  treatise,  especially  on  practical  religion. 
 
  The  church  clergy  at  that  time  writ  the  best  collection 
  of  tracts  against  popery  that  ever  appeared.  --Swift. 
 
  {Tracts  for  the  Times}.  See  {Tractarian}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  tract 
  n  1:  an  extended  area  of  land  [syn:  {piece  of  land},  {piece  of 
  ground},  {parcel  of  land},  {parcel}] 
  2:  a  system  of  body  parts  that  together  serve  some  particular 
  purpose 
  3:  a  brief  treatise  on  a  subject  of  interest;  published  in  the 
  form  of  a  booklet  [syn:  {pamphlet}] 
  4:  a  bundle  of  nerve  fibers  following  a  path  through  the  brain 
  [syn:  {nerve  pathway},  {nerve  tract},  {pathway}] 

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