pull

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• COUNT in NET: 16 in 15 verses (in OT : 13 in 12 verses) (in NT : 3 in 3 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

pull, v. t. [AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.].

•  To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly.  [1913 Webster]

  "Ne'er pull your hat upon your brows."  [1913 Webster]

  "He put forth his hand . . . and pulled her in."  [1913 Webster]
•  To draw apart; to tear; to rend.  [1913 Webster]

  "He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate."  [1913 Webster]
•  To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward one; to pluck; as, to pull fruit; to pull flax; to pull a finch.  [1913 Webster]
•  To move or operate by the motion of drawing towards one; as, to pull a bell; to pull an oar.  [1913 Webster]
•  To hold back, and so prevent from winning; as, the favorite was pulled.  [1913 Webster]
•  To take or make, as a proof or impression; -- hand presses being worked by pulling a lever.  [1913 Webster]
•  To strike the ball in a particular manner. See Pull, n., 8.  [1913 Webster]

  "Never pull a straight fast ball to leg."  [1913 Webster]

To pull and haul, to draw hither and thither. “ Both are equally pulled and hauled to do that which they are unable to do. ” South. -- To pull down, to demolish; to destroy; to degrade; as, to pull down a house. “ In political affairs, as well as mechanical, it is easier to pull down than build up.” Howell. “ To raise the wretched, and pull down the proud.” Roscommon. -- To pull a finch. See under Finch. -- To pull off, take or draw off.<-- (b) to perform (esp. something illegal or unethical); as, to pull off a heist [robbery]. (c) to accomplish, against the odds.-->

pull, v. i. 

 To exert one's self in an act or motion of drawing or hauling; to tug; as, to pull at a rope.  [1913 Webster]

To pull apart, to become separated by pulling; as, a rope will pull apart. -- To pull up, to draw the reins; to stop; to halt. -- To pull through, to come successfully to the end of a difficult undertaking, a dangerous sickness, or the like.

pull, n. 

•  The act of pulling or drawing with force; an effort to move something by drawing toward one.  [1913 Webster]

  "I awakened with a violent pull upon the ring which was fastened at the top of my box."  [1913 Webster]
•  A contest; a struggle; as, a wrestling pull.  Carew.  [1913 Webster]
•  A pluck; loss or violence suffered.  [1913 Webster]

  "Two pulls at once;
  His lady banished, and a limb lopped off."  [1913 Webster]
•  A knob, handle, or lever, etc., by which anything is pulled; as, a drawer pull; a bell pull.  [1913 Webster]
•  The act of rowing; as, a pull on the river.  [1913 Webster]
•  The act of drinking; as, to take a pull at the beer, or the mug.  Dickens.  [1913 Webster]
•  Something in one's favor in a comparison or a contest; an advantage; means of influencing; as, in weights the favorite had the pull.  [1913 Webster]
•  A kind of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the side.  [1913 Webster]

  "The pull is not a legitimate stroke, but bad cricket."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pull, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. exert force upon (a thing) tending to move it to oneself or the origin of the force (stop pulling my hair).
2 tr. cause to move in this way (pulled it nearer; pulled me into the room).
3 intr. exert a pulling force (the horse pulls well; the engine will not pull).
4 tr. extract (a cork or tooth) by pulling.
5 tr. damage (a muscle etc.) by abnormal strain.
6 a tr. move (a boat) by pulling on the oars. b intr. (of a boat etc.) be caused to move, esp. in a specified direction.
7 intr. (often foll. by up) proceed with effort (up a hill etc.).
8 tr. (foll. by on) bring out (a weapon) for use against (a person).
9 a tr. check the speed of (a horse), esp. so as to make it lose the race. b intr. (of a horse) strain against the bit.
10 tr. attract or secure (custom or support).
11 tr. draw (liquor) from a barrel etc.
12 intr. (foll. by at) tear or pluck at.
13 intr. (often foll. by on, at) inhale deeply; draw or suck (on a pipe etc.).
14 tr. (often foll. by up) remove (a plant) by the root.
15 tr. a Cricket strike (the ball) to the leg side. b Golf strike (the ball) widely to the left.
16 tr. print (a proof etc.).
17 tr. colloq. achieve or accomplish (esp. something illicit).
--n.
1 the act of pulling.
2 the force exerted by this.
3 a means of exerting influence; an advantage.
4 something that attracts or draws attention.
5 a deep draught of liquor.
6 a prolonged effort, e.g. in going up a hill.
7 a handle etc. for applying a pull.
8 a spell of rowing.
9 a printer's rough proof.
10 Cricket & Golf a pulling stroke.
11 a suck at a cigarette.

Idiom

pull about 1 treat roughly.
2 pull from side to side. pull apart (or to pieces) = take to pieces (see PIECE). pull back retreat or cause to retreat.
pull-back n.
1 a retarding influence.
2 a withdrawal of troops.
pull down
1 demolish (esp. a building).
2 humiliate.
3 colloq. earn (a sum of money) as wages etc. pull a face assume a distinctive or specified (e.g. sad or angry) expression. pull a fast one see FAST(1).
pull in
1 (of a bus, train, etc.) arrive to take passengers.
2 (of a vehicle) move to the side of or off the road.
3 earn or acquire.
4 colloq. arrest. pull-in n. Brit. a roadside caf{eacute} or other stopping-place. pull a person's leg deceive a person playfully.
pull off
1 remove by pulling.
2 succeed in achieving or winning. pull oneself together recover control of oneself. pull the other one colloq. expressing disbelief (with ref. to pull a person's leg).
pull out
1 take out by pulling.
2 depart.
3 withdraw from an undertaking.
4 (of a bus, train, etc.) leave with its passengers.
5 (of a vehicle) move out from the side of the road, or from its normal position to overtake. pull-out n. something that can be pulled out, esp. a section of a magazine. pull over (of a vehicle) pull in. pull the plug on colloq. defeat, discomfit. pull one's punches avoid using one's full force. pull rank take unfair advantage of one's seniority. pull round (or through) recover or cause to recover from an illness. pull strings exert (esp. clandestine) influence. pull the strings be the real actuator of what another does. pull together work in harmony.
pull up
1 stop or cause to stop moving.
2 pull out of the ground.
3 reprimand.
4 check oneself. pull one's weight do one's fair share of work. pull wires esp. US = pull strings.

Derivative

puller n.

Etymology

OE (a)pullian, perh. rel. to LG pulen, MDu. polen to shell

THESAURUS

pull

abandon, accomplish, adduct, adduction, affinity, allure, allurement, amperage, appeal, apprehend, armipotence, arrest, arrive, assume, attack, attract, attractance, attraction, attractiveness, attractivity, authority, avulse, back away, back off, back out, backstairs influence, be magnetic, be paid, beat a retreat, beat it, beef, bend, beverage, bias, bib, black power, blue, blueprint, boost, booze, bridle, bring off, bring out, brute force, buck up, bumper, bust, call, campaign for, capillarity, capillary attraction, captivate, capture, carry out, catch, catch a crab, centripetal force, chaff, chain-smoke, charge, charisma, chaw, check, chew, clout, cogence, cogency, cold-type proof, collar, color proof, come, come up to, complete, compulsion, computer proof, connections, constrain, contain, continue, control, cool, cool off, criticize, crook, cull, curb, curtail, curve, cut a crab, cut out, debase, decelerate, deflect, degrade, demolish, depart, deracinate, destroy, detach, devastate, deviate, diffract, diffuse, dig out, dig up, diminish, dint, discredit, disentangle, disgrace, dishonor, disperse, distort, diverge, divert, do, dogleg, dompt, draft, drag, drag out, draggle, drain the cup, dram, draw, draw back, draw in, draw out, draw towards, draw up, drawing, drawing power, drayage, dredge, dredge up, drench, drink, drink in, drink off, drink to, drink up, drive, drop, duress, earn, effect, effectiveness, effectuality, elongate, encourage, energy, engrave, enjoin, entice, eradicate, evacuate, evolve, evulse, excavate, excise, exsect, extend, extract, extraction, extricate, fall back, fascinate, favor, feather, feather an oar, flay, flee, flower power, force, force majeure, forcefulness, foundry proof, full blast, full force, gain, galley, galley proof, gargle, get, get better, get out, give up, give way, go, go and do, gouge out, govern, gravitation, gravity, grub up, guard, gulp, guzzle, hairpin, hale, halt, haul, haulage, hauling, have, have an attraction, have on, heave, heaving, hectograph, hinder, hold, hold at bay, hold back, hold fast, hold in, hold in leash, hold up, hoodwink, hope for, humiliate, imbibe, impel, impress, imprint, improve, in, influence, inhalation, inhale, inhale snuff, inhibit, inside track, interest, issue, jerk, jigger, jolt, jump, keep, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep under control, knock, land, lap, lay under restraint, leave, lengthen, lengthen out, let out, level, leverage, libation, live, lower, lug, lure, magnet, magnetism, magnetize, main force, main strength, make fun of, mana, manage, might, might and main, mightiness, mimeograph, mine, moxie, multigraph, muscle, muscle power, mutual attraction, nab, nail, nick, nip, oar, obtain, outpace, outrun, overexert, overexertion, overextend, overextension, overprint, overstrain, overstress, overtax, overtaxing, pace, paddle, page proof, pan, peg, perform, perpetrate, persuasion, pick out, pick up, pinch, pizzazz, plate proof, pledge, pluck, pluck out, pluck up, ply the oar, poke fun at, poop, portion, potation, potence, potency, potentiality, potion, power, power pack, power structure, power struggle, powerfulness, prepotency, press, press proof, prestige, print, procure, produce, productiveness, productivity, progressive proof, prohibit, prolong, prolongate, proof, proof sheet, protract, prove, publish, puff, puissance, pull a proof, pull apart, pull away, pull back, pull down, pull for, pull in, pull off, pull out, pull strings, pull through, pull to pieces, pull towards, pull up, pulling, pulling power, punch, punt, push, put down, put on, put out, put to bed, put to press, quaff, quarry, quit, rack, rag, rake out, rally, raze, reach, recede, receive, recoil, recover, recuperate, reduce, refract, rein, rein in, reissue, relinquish, remove, rend, reprint, repro proof, restrain, retard, retreat, retrench, revise, rib, ridicule, rip off, rip out, root for, root out, root up, round, round of drinks, row, row away, row dry, run, run down, run off, scatter, scull, secure, seduction, seductiveness, select, separate, set back, ship oars, shoot, shot, shove, shy, sinew, sip, skew, sky an oar, slam, slate, slip, slow down, slurp, smoke, snake, snifter, snort, snub, special favor, spin out, spot, stamp, start, steam, stone proof, stop, strain, strain every nerve, straining, straiten, strength, stress, stress and strain, stressfulness, stretch, stretch out, strike, string out, strong arm, succeed, suck, suck in, suckle, suction, sup, superiority, superpower, support, survive, sweat blood, swig, swill, sympathy, take flight, take in tow, take into custody, take off, take on, take out, take snuff, tauten, tax, taxing, tear, tear off, tear out, tease, tense, tension, tighten, tipple, toast, toss down, toss off, tot, tow, towage, towing, traction, tractive power, trail, train, trawl, trial impression, troll, tug, tug-of-war, tugging, turn, turn tail, twist, twit, unearth, unravel, uproot, validity, vandyke, vehemence, vigor, vim, virility, virtue, virulence, vitality, warp, wash down, wattage, weed out, weight, wet, win, wire-pulling, withdraw, withhold, wreck, wrench, wrest out, yank, zigzag

ROGET THESAURUS

pull

Printing

N printing, block printing, type-printing, plate printing, (engraving), the press, composition, print, letterpress, text, context, note, page, column, typography, stereotype, electrotype, aprotype, type, black letter, font, fount, pi, pie, capitals, brevier, bourgeois, pica boldface, capitals, caps, catchword, composing-frame, composing room, composing rule, composing stand, composing stick, italics, justification, linotype, live matter, logotype, lower case, upper case, make-up, matrix, matter, monotype, 4-1/2 point, 5 point, 5-1/2 point, 6 point, 7 point, 8 point, press room, press work, reglet, roman, running head, running title, scale, serif, shank, sheet work, shoulder, signature, slug, underlay, folio, copy, impression, pull, proof, revise, author's proof, galley proof, press proof, press revise, printer, compositor, reader, printer's devil copyholder, printed, in type, typographical, solid in galleys.

Motive

N motive, springs of action, wellsprings of action, reason, ground, call, principle, by end, by purpose, mainspring, primum mobile, keystone, the why and the wherefore, pro and con, reason why, secret motive, arriere pensee, intention, inducement, consideration, attraction, loadstone, magnet, magnetism, magnetic force, allectation, allective, temptation, enticement, agacerie, allurement, witchery, bewitchment, bewitchery, charm, spell, fascination, blandishment, cajolery, seduction, seducement, honeyed words, voice of the tempter, song of the Sirens forbidden fruit, golden apple, persuasibility, persuasibleness, attractability, impressibility, susceptibility, softness, persuasiveness, attractiveness, tantalization, influence, prompting, dictate, instance, impulse, impulsion, incitement, incitation, press, instigation, provocation, inspiration, persuasion, suasion, encouragement, advocacy, exhortation, advice, solicitation, lobbyism, pull, incentive, stimulus, spur, fillip, whip, goad, ankus, rowel, provocative, whet, dram, bribe, lure, decoy, decoy duck, bait, trail of a red herring, bribery and corruption, sop, sop for Cerberus, prompter, tempter, seducer, seductor, instigator, firebrand, incendiary, Siren, Circe, agent provocateur, lobbyist, impulsive, motive, suasive, suasory, persuasive, persuasory, hortative, hortatory, protreptical, inviting, tempting suasive, suasory, seductive, attractive, fascinating, provocative, induced, disposed, persuadable, spellbound, instinct with, smitten with, infatuated, inspired, by, because, therefore, from this motive, from that motive, for this reason, for that reason, for, by reason of, for the sake of, count of, out of, from, as, forasmuch as, for all the world, on principle, fax mentis incendium gloriae, temptation hath a music for all ears, to beguile many and be beguiled by one.

Superiority

N superiority, majority, greatness, advantage, pull, preponderance, preponderation, vantage ground, prevalence, partiality, personal superiority, nobility, Triton among the minnows, primus inter pares, nulli secundus, captain, crackajack, supremacy, preeminence, lead, maximum, record, trikumia, climax, culmination, transcendence, ne plus ultra, lion's share, Benjamin's mess, excess, surplus, (redundancy), superior, greater, major, higher, exceeding, great, distinguished, ultra, vaulting, more than a match for, supreme, greatest, utmost, paramount, preeminent, foremost, crowning, first-rate, unrivaled peerless, matchless, none such, second to none, sans pareil, unparagoned, unparalleled, unequalled, unapproached, unsurpassed, superlative, inimitable facile princeps, incomparable, sovereign, without parallel, nulli secundus, ne plus ultra, beyond compare, beyond comparison, culminating, transcendent, transcendental, plus royaliste que le Roi, more catholic than the Pope increased, enlarged, beyond, more, over, over the mark, above the mark, above par, upwards of, in advance of, over and above, at the top of the scale, at its height, eminently, egregiously, preeminently, surpassing, prominently, superlatively, supremely, above all, of all things, the most, to crown all, kat exochin, par excellence, principally, especially, particularly, peculiarly, a fortiori, even, yea, still more, I shall not look upon his like again, deos fortioribus addesse.

Exertion

N exertion, effort, strain, tug, pull, stress, throw, stretch, struggle, spell, spurt, spirt, stroke of work, stitch of work, a strong pull a long pull and a pull all together, dead lift, heft, gymnastics, exercise, exercitation, wear and tear, ado, toil and trouble, uphill work, hard work, warm work, harvest time, labor, work, toil, travail, manual labor, sweat of one's brow, swink, drudgery, slavery, fagging, hammering, limae labor, industry, industriousness, operoseness, operosity, trouble, pains, duty, resolution, energy, laboring, laborious, operose, elaborate, strained, toilsome, troublesome, wearisome, uphill, herculean, gymnastic, palestric, hard-working, painstaking, strenuous, energetic, hard at work, on the stretch, laboriously, lustily, pugnis et calcibus, with might and main, with all one's might, with a strong hand, with a sledge hammer, with much ado, to the best of one's abilities, totis viribus, vi et armis, manibus pedibusque, tooth and nail, unguibus et rostro, hammer and tongs, heart and soul, through thick and thin, by the sweat of one's brow, suo Marte, aide-toi le ciel t'aidera, and still be doing, never done, buen principio la mitad es hecha, cosa ben fatta e' fatta due volie, it is better to wear out than to rust out, labor omnia vincit, labor, wide as the earth, has its summit in Heaven, le travail du corps delivre des peines de l'esprit, manu forti, ora et labora.

VB exert oneself, exert one's energies, tax one's energies, use exertion, labor, work, toil, moil, sweat, fag, drudge, slave, drag a lengthened chain, wade through, strive, stretch a long arm, pull, tug, ply, ply the oar, tug at the oar, do the work, take the laboring oar bestir oneself (be active), take trouble, trouble oneself, work hard, rough it, put forth one's strength, put forth a strong arm, fall to work, bend the bow, buckle to, set one's shoulder to the wheel, work like a horse, work like a cart horse, work like a galley slave, work like a coal heaver, labor day and night, work day and night, redouble one's efforts, do double duty, work double hours, work double tides, sit up, burn the candle at both ends, stick to, work one's way, fight one's way, lay about one, hammer at, take pains, do one's best, do one's level best, do one's utmost, give one hundred percent, do the best one can, do all one can, do all in one's power, do as much as in one lies, do what lies in one's power, use one's best endeavor, use one's utmost endeavor, try one's best, try one's utmost, play one's best card, put one's best leg foremost, put one's right leg foremost, have one's whole soul in his work, put all one's strength into, strain every nerve, spare no efforts, spare no pains, go all lengths, go through fire and water, move heaven and earth, leave no stone unturned.

Influence

N influence, importance, weight, pressure, preponderance, prevalence, sway, predominance, predominancy, ascendency, dominance, reign, control, domination, pull, authority, capability, effect, interest, synergy (cooperation), footing, purchase, play, leverage, vantage ground, tower of strength, host in himself, protection, patronage, auspices, influential, effective, important, weighty, prevailing, prevalent, rife, rampant, dominant, regnant, predominant, in the ascendant, hegemonical, with telling effect, tel maure tel valet.

Navigation

VB sail, put to sea, take ship, get under way, set sail, spread sail, spread canvas, gather way, have way on, make sail, carry sail, plow the waves, plow the deep, plow the main, plow the ocean, walk the waters, navigate, warp, luff, scud, boom, kedge, drift, course, cruise, coast, hug the shore, hug the land, circumnavigate, ply the oar, row, paddle, pull, scull, punt, steam, swim, float, buffet the waves, ride the storm, skim, effleurer, dive, wade, fly, be wafted, hover, soar, flutter, jet, orbit, rocket, take wing, take a flight, take off, ascend, blast off, land, alight, wing one's flight, wing one's way, aviate, parachute, jump, glide.

Traction

N traction, drawing, draught, pull, haul, rake, a long pull a strong pull and a pull all together, towage, haulage, drawing, tractile, tractive.

VB draw, pull, haul, lug, rake, drag, tug, tow, trail, train, take in tow, wrench, jerk, twitch, touse, yank.