Word: pull Part of Speech: verb 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. To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force. Labels: intransitive, transitive Example: When I give the signal, pull the rope. Example: Pull your belt tight before starting off, will you? 2. To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck or pick (flowers, fruit, etc.). Example: to pull fruit from a tree Example: pull flax 3. To attract or net; to pull in. Labels: transitive Example: Television, a favored source of news and information, pulls the largest share of advertising monies. Example: While the pimp can always pull a ho with his magnetism, he can never pull a nun. The nun is too in touch with her own compassionate and honest spirit to react to a spirit as negative and deceitful as that of the pimp. 4. To persuade (someone) to have sex with one. Labels: Ireland, UK, ambitransitive, slang Example: I pulled at the club last night. Example: He's pulled that bird over there. 5. To interest (someone) in dating or pursuing one (whether or not this has led to sex). Labels: US, ambitransitive, slang Example: Wow, Joyce pulls, actually. 6. To remove or withdraw (something), especially from public circulation or availability. Labels: transitive Example: Each day, they pulled the old bread and set out fresh loaves. Example: The book was due to be released today, but it was pulled at the last minute over legal concerns. 7. To retrieve or look up for use. Labels: transitive Example: I'll have to pull a part number for that. Example: This computer file is incorrect. Can we pull the old version from your backups? 8. To obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority. Example: It's the contractor's responsibility to pull the necessary permits before starting work. 9. To do or perform, especially something seen as negative by the speaker. Labels: informal, transitive Example: He regularly pulls 12-hour days, sometimes 14. Example: You'll be sent home if you pull another stunt like that. 10. To copy or emulate the actions or behaviour associated with the person or thing mentioned (with a and the name of a person, place, event, etc.). Example: He pulled an Elvis and got really fat. Example: They're trying to pull a Watergate on us. 11. To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field. 12. To row. Labels: intransitive Example: It had been a sort of race hitherto, and the rowers, with set teeth and compressed lips, had pulled stroke for stroke. 13. To transport by rowing. Labels: transitive Example: As the man at the oars pulled him across, the scientist said to him, "Do you know astronomy?" 14. To achieve by rowing on a rowing machine. Labels: transitive Example: I pulled a personal best on the erg yesterday. 15. To draw apart; to tear; to rend. Example: He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate. Example: If you are going to pull or chop the pork butt, take it out of the smoker when the meat is in the higher temperature range, put it in a large pan, and let it rest, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Using heavy-duty dinner forks, pull the pork butt to shreds. 16. To strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.). Labels: transitive 17. To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target. Labels: ambitransitive Example: …we had to clear a long hallway, run up half way, pull the boss mob to us, and engage. Example: Basically buff pet, have it pull lots of mobs, shield pet, chain heal pet, have your aoe casters finish off hurt mobs once pet gets good aggro. 18. To score a certain number of points in a sport. Labels: UK Example: How many points did you pull today, Albert? 19. To hold back, and so prevent from winning. Example: The favourite was pulled. 20. To take or make (a proof or impression); so called because hand presses were worked by pulling a lever. Labels: dated 21. To strike the ball in a particular manner. (See noun sense.) Example: Never pull a straight fast ball to leg. 22. To draw beer from a pump, keg, or other source. Labels: UK Example: Let's stop at Finnigan's. The barman pulls a good pint. 23. To take a swig or mouthful of drink. Labels: intransitive Example: Danny pulled at his beer and thought for a moment. 24. Of a railroad car, to pull out from a yard or station; to leave. Labels: US 25. (Followed by a preposition or adverb) To drive (a vehicle) in a particular direction or to a particular place. Labels: intransitive, transitive Example: Pull around to the window please. Example: He pulled the car forward until he was out of the way. 26. To pull over (a driver or vehicle); to detain for a traffic stop. Labels: transitive Example: The state trooper pulled me for going 60 in a 55 zone. 27. To repeatedly stretch taffy in order to achieve the desired stretchy texture. Labels: intransitive, transitive 28. To retrieve source code or other material from a source control repository. 29. In practice fighting, to reduce the strength of a blow (etymology 3) so as to avoid injuring one's practice partner. 30. To impede the progress of (a horse) to prevent its winning a race. Labels: transitive Example: 'I never liked Bowler, and I had my suspicions when Captain Ferndale persuaded you to put him up in that race. I did not discover until some time after that he pulled the horse.'