traction
TRAK-shun
/ˈtrækʃən/
The grip of a tire on a road or a wheel on a rail.
Traction is the friction that allows the car to move forward without the wheels spinning uselessly.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'tractio,' meaning 'a drawing or pulling.' It describes the way a wheel 'pulls' against the surface to create motion.
Word relationships
- grip: Grip is the more common, less technical term for traction.
- friction: Friction is the physical phenomenon; traction is the application of it for movement.
- slippage: The act of sliding or losing grip.
Commonly confused with
- friction: Friction can be bad (drag); traction is always the 'good' friction used for movement.
Word family
- tractive (adjective): Relating to traction.
- tractor (noun): A vehicle designed for high traction.
Collocations
- traction control
- lose traction
- maximum traction
Idioms & expressions
- gain traction
Example sentences
- "The wet track made it difficult for the drivers to find traction." Weather report
- "Traction is everything when you have 1,000 horsepower." Engineering
Memory hook
Traction helps the 'Track' stay under your 'Action'. Pulling power.
When not to use
Don't use it to mean 'popularity' in a racing context, though it is used that way in business.
Fun facts
- Traction control systems were banned in Formula 1 to make the sport more dependent on driver skill.
Related words
Explore more words
friction, transmission, propulsion, glide, track, powertrain
Also appears in
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