pull

[[t]pʊl[/t]]

v. t.

1) to draw or haul toward oneself or itself, in a particular direction, or into a particular position

2) to draw or tug at with force

3) to rend; tear:

to pull a cloth to pieces[/ex]

4) to draw or pluck away from a place of growth, attachment, etc.:

to pull a tooth[/ex]

5) to draw out (a weapon) for ready use

6) inf to perform; carry out:

They pulled a spectacular coup[/ex]

7) to put on; affect:

He pulled a long face when I reprimanded him[/ex]

8) to withdraw; remove:

to pull an ineffective pitcher[/ex]

9) to attract; win:

to pull votes[/ex]

10) pri fia to take (an impression or proof) from type, a cut or plate, etc

11) naut. navig. to propel by rowing, as a boat

12) pat to strain (a muscle, ligament, or tendon)

13) mil to be assigned (a specific duty)

14) to hold in (a racehorse), esp. so as to prevent from winning

15) spo to hit (a baseball) so that it follows the direction in which the bat is being swung

16) to exert a drawing, tugging, or hauling force (often fol. by at)

17) to inhale through a pipe, cigarette, etc

18) to become or come as specified, by being pulled

19) to move or go:

The train pulled away from the station[/ex]

20) naut. navig. to row

21) phv pull apart, to analyze critically esp. for errors

22) phv pull down

a) phv to draw downward

b) phv to demolish; wreck

c) phv to lower; reduce

d) inf Informal. to receive as a salary; earn:

He is pulling down more than fifty thousand a year[/ex]

23) phv pull for, to support actively; encourage:

They were pulling for the Republican candidate[/ex]

24) phv pull in

a) phv to arrive

b) phv to tighten; curb:

to pull in the reins[/ex]

c) inf Informal. to arrest (someone)

25) phv pull off, Informal. to perform successfully, esp. something difficult

26) phv pull out

a) phv to depart

b) phv to abandon abruptly:

to pull out of an agreement[/ex]

27) phv pull over, to direct one's automobile or other vehicle to the curb

28) phv pull through, to come safely through (a crisis, illness, etc.)

29) phv pull up

a) phv to bring or come to a halt

b) phv to bring or draw closer

c) phv to root up

30) the act of pulling or drawing

31) force used in pulling; pulling power

32) a drawing in of smoke or a liquid through the mouth

33) inf influence, as with persons able to grant favors

34) a part or thing to be pulled, as a handle on a drawer

35) naut. navig. a spell, or turn, at rowing

36) naut. navig. a stroke of an oar

37) pat cv a pulled muscle

38) a pulling of the ball, as in baseball or golf

39) inf the ability to attract

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- pull oneself together pull strings or wires

Etymology: bef. 1000; ME pullen (v.), OE pullian to pluck, pluck the feathers of, pull, tug; cf. MLG pūlen to strip off husks, pick, ON pūla to work hard