traction

The grip that lets wheels move along a surface without slipping.

• The tyres lost traction on the ice.
• These shoes provide better traction on wet rocks.
• Does this vehicle have enough traction for muddy roads?

Similar words: grip

Common phrases: lose traction, gain traction, better traction

Progress made as an idea, plan, or product gains attention or support.

• The idea is gaining traction.
• Our campaign got little traction last year.
• The product gained traction with younger customers.

How to use it: gain traction with someone (The proposal gained traction with local voters.)

Similar words: momentum

Common phrases: gain traction, get traction, traction with someone

Treatment that steadily pulls an injured body part to help bones stay in the right position.

• His leg is in traction.
• The doctor applied traction to the injured limb.
• She spent several days in traction after the accident.

How to use it: be in traction (He was in traction for two weeks.)

Common phrases: in traction, apply traction, skeletal traction

The act of using power to pull something across a surface.

• The railway uses electric traction.
• Steam traction once powered these trains.
• The engineers tested the new traction motor.

Similar words: haulage

Common phrases: electric traction, steam traction, traction motor