drag

I. noun Etymology: Middle English dragge, probably from Middle Low German draggen grapnel; akin to Old English dragan to draw — more at draw Date: 14th century 1. something used to drag with; especially a device for dragging under water to detect or obtain objects 2. something that is dragged, 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 dragging 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 dragging 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 drag of population growth on living standards

> d. one that is boring or gets in the way of enjoyment <

thinks studying is a drag

> <

this sickly kid is going to be a social drag — 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 drag

> 7. a. costume, outfit <

in Victorian drag

> b. clothing typical of one sex worn by a person of the opposite sex — often used in the phrase in drag 8. drag race II. verb (dragged; dragging) 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 <

dragged myself up the stairs

> (3) to cause to trail along a surface <

wandered off dragging the leash

> b. (1) to bring by or as if by force or compulsion <

had to drag her husband to the opera

> (2) to extract by or as if by pulling c. protract <

drag a story out

> 2. a. to pass a drag over <

drag a field

> b. to explore with a drag <

drag a pond

> c. to catch with a dragnet 3. to hit (a drag 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 drag 3. to trail along on the ground 4. a. to move slowly because of fatigue <

was dragging after the long trip

> b. to proceed or continue laboriously or tediously <

the lawsuit dragged on for years

> 5. draw 4a <

drag on a cigarette

> 6. to make a plucking or pulling movement 7. to participate in a drag race • draggingly adverb III. adjective Date: 1887 of, being, involving, or intended for a person in drag <

a drag ball

>