Word: pull Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Verb from Middle English pullen, from Old English pullian (“to pull, draw, tug, pluck off”), of uncertain ultimate origin. Related to West Frisian pûlje (“to shell, husk”), Middle Dutch pullen (“to drink”), Middle Dutch polen (“to peel, strip”), Low German pulen (“to pick, pluck, pull, tear, strip off husks”), Icelandic púla (“to work hard, beat”). Noun from Middle English pul, pull, pulle, from the verb pullen (“to pull”). Pronunciation: /pʊl/, /pəl/, /pʉl/, /puːl/ 1. An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself). Labels: countable Example: He gave the hair a sharp pull and it came out. Example: She took several pulls on her cigarette. 2. An attractive force which causes motion towards the source. Labels: uncountable Example: The spaceship came under the pull of the gas giant. Example: iron fillings drawn by the pull of a magnet 3. An advantage over somebody; a means of influencing. Labels: figuratively, uncountable Example: The hypnotist exerted a pull over his patients. Example: Tresham's up to his eyes in dock business and town business, a regular jobmonger, he has no use for anybody who hasn't a pull. 4. The power to influence someone or something; sway, clout. Labels: figuratively, informal, uncountable Example: I don't have a lot of pull within the company. Example: She wants to work in the villages, and she has a lot of pull with some ministers and there she is, like a political supervisor. 5. Any device meant to be pulled, as a lever, knob, handle, or rope. Labels: countable Example: a zipper pull 6. A randomized selection from a given set. Labels: countable, figuratively Example: card pull 7. A randomized selection from a given set. Labels: Internet, countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: mythical FYP pull 8. A randomized selection from a given set. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable 9. Something in one's favour in a comparison or a contest; advantage. Labels: countable, dated, figuratively, slang, uncountable Example: In weights the favourite had the pull. 10. Appeal or attraction. Labels: figuratively, uncountable Example: the pull of a movie star 11. The act or process of sending out a request for data from a server by a client. Labels: Internet, countable, uncountable Example: server pull Example: pull technology 12. A journey made by rowing. Labels: countable Example: 1874, Marcus Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life Chapter V As Blunt had said, the burning ship lay a good twelve miles from the Malabar, and the pull was a long and a weary one. Once fairly away from the protecting sides of the vessel that had borne them thus far on their dismal journey, the adventurers seemed to have come into a new atmosphere. 13. A contest; a struggle. Labels: countable, dated, uncountable Example: a wrestling pull Example: this wrastling pull betweene Corineus and Gogmagog, is reported to have befallen at Douer. 14. An injury resulting from a forceful pull on a limb, etc.; strain; sprain. Labels: countable Example: They used steroids to build strength but, more importantly, to recover from strains, pulls, dislocations. 15. Loss, misfortune, or violence suffered. Labels: countable, obsolete, poetic, uncountable Example: Two pulls at once; / His lady banished, and a limb lopped off. 16. A drink, especially of an alcoholic beverage; a mouthful or swig of a drink. Labels: colloquial, countable Example: Heah, Sam Johnsing, jis' take a pull at dis bottle, an' it will make yo' feel better. Example: However, both gentlemen were clearly of one mind over the quality of the wine, for they each took a prolonged pull, smacked their lips, and looked hard at each other, as though in silent communion over the excellence of the vintage. 17. A type of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the on side; a pull shot. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The pull is not a legitimate stroke, but bad cricket. 18. A mishit shot which travels in a straight line and (for a right-handed player) left of the intended path. Labels: countable, uncountable 19. A single impression from a handpress. Labels: countable, historical, uncountable Example: "Tell George to come down and bring pulls of his latest plates," confirmed Joolby. 20. A proof sheet. Labels: countable, uncountable