verb

attract

to attract, to draw, to entice

The bright light attracts moths.

The bright light attracts moths.

The new shop attracts many customers.

The new shop attracts many customers.

((sb./sth.)) to pull (sb./sth.) toward oneself The magnet attracts metal.

((sb./sth.)) ((to sth.)) to cause (sb.) to come to a place The city attracts many tourists.

Synonyms: draw, entice, lure; Antonyms: repel, deter

From Latin 'ad-' (to) + 'trahere' (to pull). Literally means 'to pull towards'.

Think of a magnet that 'pulls' things towards it. The 'tract' part is like a tractor, which pulls things.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.