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pull

Pronunciation: /pʊl/

The English word “pull” has 20 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force.
  2. To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck or pick (flowers, fruit, etc.).
  3. To attract or net; to pull in.
  4. To persuade (someone) to have sex with one.
  5. To interest (someone) in dating or pursuing one (whether or not this has led to sex).
  6. To remove or withdraw (something), especially from public circulation or availability.
  7. To retrieve or look up for use.
  8. To obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority.
  9. To do or perform, especially something seen as negative by the speaker.
  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.).
  11. To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field.
  12. To row.
  13. To transport by rowing.
  14. To achieve by rowing on a rowing machine.
  15. To draw apart; to tear; to rend.
  16. To strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.).
  17. To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target.
  18. To score a certain number of points in a sport.
  19. To hold back, and so prevent from winning.
  20. To take or make (a proof or impression); so called because hand presses were worked by pulling a lever.

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…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.