extraction
/ɪkˈstrækʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈstrækʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈstrak-shən/ (ame, mw)
extraction — noun
- extractionsingular
- extractionsplural
1. the process of pulling or drawing a substance, material, or object out of anothe
the process of pulling or drawing a substance, material, or object out of another substance, object, or location, often requiring effort or a specific method
The lab technician carried out the extraction of the metal from the rock sample.
collocation: carried out the extraction
The extraction of caffeine from coffee beans is done with hot water and a chemical process.
pattern: extraction of [substance] from [source]
The extraction of natural gas from deep underground requires special drilling equipment.
Folake watched the extraction of oil from the olive press at the village farm.
The water extraction process in the plant removes all harmful substances from the river water.
- removal
broader and less technical; suits everyday contexts
- withdrawal
used for money from an account or troops from a location
- mining
specific to extracting minerals from the ground
用法筆記
Common in technical fields such as chemistry, mining, manufacturing, and data processing. Countable when referring to a specific instance or method — e.g. 'three different extractions were tested.'
常見錯誤
2. a dental procedure in which a tooth is pulled out from a person's gums and jawbo
a dental procedure in which a tooth is pulled out from a person's gums and jawbone, often because it is damaged, infected, or causing crowding
The dentist performed a simple extraction on the damaged molar.
collocation: performed an extraction
Sofie needed a tooth extraction because her wisdom tooth was growing sideways.
countable use: a tooth extraction
After the extraction, Reuben used ice packs to reduce the swelling on his cheek.
The dental clinic scheduled three extractions for the following Monday morning.
用法筆記
Patients typically 'have an extraction' or 'get an extraction'; dentists 'perform an extraction.' Distinguish from sense 1 — this sense is specific to teeth and always refers to a medical procedure.
常見錯誤
3. the operation of moving people or valuable assets out of a dangerous or enemy-co
the operation of moving people or valuable assets out of a dangerous or enemy-controlled area, typically carried out by military units or emergency teams
The rescue team planned the extraction of the hikers from the snowy mountain.
pattern: extraction of [people] from [location]
Ryan participated in a military extraction operation behind enemy lines.
The emergency extraction of the embassy staff was completed within two hours.
Faisal trained for six months on extraction techniques in urban warfare zones.
- evacuation
broader term, typically used for civilians moving out of a danger zone
- withdrawal
used when troops pull out of an area in an organized manner
- rescue
focuses on saving people from danger, often interchangeable in emergency contexts
- deployment
sending troops into an area, the opposite of pulling them out
- insertion
putting personnel into a zone, used in military jargon
用法筆記
Often found in news reports about military conflicts or natural disasters. The subject performing the extraction is usually a team, unit, or organization. Distinguish from sense 1 — this sense is about people or assets being moved out of danger, not about removing a substance from something.
常見錯誤
4. the country, region, or social class that a person's ancestors originally came f
the country, region, or social class that a person's ancestors originally came from, used especially in the fixed pattern 'of … extraction' to describe family background
Hui is of Chinese extraction, but she was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur.
pattern: be of + nationality + extraction
The documents showed that Esteban was of Spanish extraction on his mother's side.
pattern: of + nationality + extraction
People of Haitian extraction made up a large part of the city's population.
Gabriel wrote a report about the traditions of families of Irish extraction in Boston.
文法句型
be of [nationality/ethnicity] extraction
be of [social class] extraction
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'of [adjective] extraction' — the adjective describes the ancestor's origin (nationality, ethnicity, or social class). Does not refer to a person's own nationality; a person can be American but of Japanese extraction. Less common in everyday speech; 'ancestry' and 'descent' are more frequent alternatives.