Attract
[ə'trækt]
Definition
(verb.) exert a force on (a body) causing it to approach or prevent it from moving away; 'the gravitational pull of a planet attracts other bodies'.
(verb.) direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes; 'Her good looks attract the stares of many men'; 'The ad pulled in many potential customers'; 'This pianist pulls huge crowds'; 'The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers'.
(verb.) be attractive to; 'The idea of a vacation appeals to me'; 'The beautiful garden attracted many people'.
Inputed by Brice--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) To draw to, or cause to tend to; esp. to cause to approach, adhere, or combine; or to cause to resist divulsion, separation, or decomposition.
(v. t.) To draw by influence of a moral or emotional kind; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure; as, to attract admirers.
(n.) Attraction.
Editor: Stu
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. [1]. Draw, bring into proximity, cause to approach.[2]. Allure, invite, entice, engage, win, captivate, fascinate, endear, charm, enamour.
Checker: Paulette
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Influence, induce, dispose, incline, tempt, prompt, allure, charm, fascinate,invite, entice
ANT:Repel, deter, indispose, disincline, estrange, alienate
Typed by Agatha
Definition
v.t. to draw to or cause to approach: to allure: to entice: to draw forth.—adj. Attract′able that may be attracted.—n. Attrac′tion act of attracting: the force which draws or tends to draw bodies or their particles to each other: that which attracts.—adj. Attract′ive having the power of attracting: alluring.—advs. Attract′ively Attract′ingly.—ns. Attract′iveness Attractabil′ity; Attract′or Attract′er an agent of attraction.
Checked by Annabelle
Examples
- As soon as the current flows, the coils become magnetic and attract the soft iron armature, drawing it forward and causing the clapper to strike the bell. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- The door-keeper will pass the note to Mr. Lorry, and do you make any gesture that will attract Mr. Lorry's attention, and show him where you stand. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- A four-oared galley hovering about in so unusual a way as to attract this notice was an ugly circumstance that I could not get rid of. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Let me,' says the large man, trying to attract the attention of his wife in the distance, 'have the pleasure of presenting Mrs Podsnap to her host. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- I can understand content in such a case--though how the outward situation can attract him puzzles me. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- He had, however, a real respect for learning and a real desire for knowledge, and he did his utmost to attract men of learning to his court. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- In every case that can be tested, it is found that a north pole repels a north pole, and a south pole repels a south pole; but that a north and a south pole always attract each other. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- It attracted Mr. Lorry's eyes to Carton's face, which was turned to the fire. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- The trees of the forest attracted my deep admiration as I proceeded toward the sea. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- A rustle in a field beyond the hedge attracted his attention. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- This automatic electrocuting device attracted so much attention, and got half a column in an evening paper, that the manager made me stop it. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- He was reduced to the verge of despair, when an open door attracted his attention. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- The bosom moving in Society with the jewels displayed upon it, attracted general admiration. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- She was very much attracted by him. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Low, as if to avoid making a noise and attracting attention. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- In the year 1600, Gilbert, an English physician, enlarged considerably the catalogue of substances which have the property of attracting light bodies. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- They're for attracting birds. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- Sissy recommended that, to avoid making inquiries and attracting attention in the town, they should present themselves to pay at the door. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- On leaving the office the first precaution to be observed was to abstain from attracting attention by stopping to look about me. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Send that belonging to General Wright's corps as far on the road to Hanover Town as it can go, without attracting attention to the fact. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Within two decades of the crucifixion this new religion was already attracting the attention of the Roman rulers in several provinces. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- When current is made, the relay attracts an armature, which thereby closes a circuit in a local battery and thus causes a click of the sounder. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- It is quite otherwise with the employment into which the monopoly naturally attracts, if I may say so, the capital of the London merchant. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- But somehow this case attracts me. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- What attracts them it would be difficult to say. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- A wire carrying current attracts iron filings. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- It is the superiority of price which attracts them; and as soon as that superiority ceases, they necessarily cease to go thither. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- She attracts, sir: she would attract without the advantages of your wealth and position. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
Checker: Sinclair