Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - drag

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English ~ge, probably from Middle Low German ~gen grapnel; akin to Old English ~an to draw — more at draw  Date: 14th century  1. something used to ~ with; especially a device for ~ging under water to detect or obtain objects  2. something that is ~ged, pulled, or drawn along or over a surface: as  a. harrow  b. a sledge for conveying heavy bodies  c. conveyance  3.  a. the act or an instance of ~ging or drawing: as  (1) a drawing along or over a surface with effort or pressure  (2) motion effected with slowness or difficulty; also the condition of having or seeming to have such motion  (3) a draw on a pipe, cigarette, or cigar; also a draft of liquid  b. a movement, inclination, or retardation caused by or as if by ~ging  c. slang influence securing special favor ; pull  4.  a. something that retards motion, action, or advancement  b.  (1) the retarding force acting on a body (as an airplane) moving through a fluid (as air) parallel and opposite to the direction of motion  (2) friction between engine parts; also retardation due to friction  c. burden, encumbrance the ~ of population growth on living standards  d. one that is boring or gets in the way of enjoyment thinks studying is a ~ this sickly kid is going to be a social ~ — Edmund Morris  5.  a. an object drawn over the ground to leave a scented trail  b. a clog fastened to a trap to prevent the escape of a trapped animal  6. street, road the main ~  7.  a. costume, outfit in Victorian ~  b. clothing typical of one sex worn by a person of the opposite sex — often used in the phrase in ~  8. ~ race  II. verb  (~ged; ~ging)  Date: 15th century  transitive verb  1.  a.  (1) to draw slowly or heavily ; haul  (2) to cause (as oneself) to move with slowness or difficulty ~ged myself up the stairs  (3) to cause to trail along a surface wandered off ~ging the leash  b.  (1) to bring by or as if by force or compulsion had to ~ her husband to the opera  (2) to extract by or as if by pulling  c. protract ~ a story out  2.  a. to pass a ~ over ~ a field  b. to explore with a ~ ~ a pond  c. to catch with a ~net  3. to hit (a ~ bunt) while moving toward first base  4. to move (items on a computer screen) especially by means of a mouse  intransitive verb  1. to hang or lag behind  2. to fish or search with a ~  3. to trail along on the ground  4.  a. to move slowly because of fatigue was ~ging after the long trip  b. to proceed or continue laboriously or tediously the lawsuit ~ged on for years  5. draw 4a ~ on a cigarette  6. to make a plucking or pulling movement  7. to participate in a ~ race  • ~gingly adverb  III. adjective  Date: 1887 of, being, involving, or intended for a person in ~ a ~ ball