pul 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. øpull
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÷ 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. øøpuller n. [OE (a)pullian, perh. rel. to LG pulen, MDu. polen to shell]