drag
[ˈdɹʷæɡ]
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.29 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A device dragged along the bottom of a body of water in search of something, e.g. a dead body, or in fishing.
Countable
noun
A systematic search for someone over a wide area, especially by the authorities; a dragnet.
Countable; Informal
noun
Someone or something that is annoying or frustrating, or disappointing; an obstacle to progress or enjoyment.
Countable; Slang
Example Sentences
- "When designing cars, manufacturers have to take drag into consideration."
- "A high thrust-to-weight ratio helps a rocket to overcome the effects of gravity drag."
- ""He told me that he was certain that Coates shot at him. We threw out a drag and landed Coates within an hour.""
- "He got high after just one drag of the joint."
- "Give me a drag on that roach!"
- "Travelling to work in the rush hour is a real drag."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- Proto-Indo-European *dʰrógʰ-e-ti Proto-Germanic *draganą Proto-West Germanic *dragan Old English dragan Middle English dragen Middle English draggen Low German draggeinflu. English drag From Middle English draggen (“to drag”), early Middle English dragen (“to draw, carry”), confluence of Old English dragan (“to drag, draw, draw oneself, go, protract”) and Old Norse draga (“to draw, attract”); both from Proto-Germanic *draganą (“to draw, drag”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- (“to draw, drag”). Verb sense influenced due to association with the noun drag (“that which is hauled or dragged”), related to Low German dragge (“a drag-anchor, grapnel”). Cognate with Danish drægge (“to dredge”), Danish drage (“to draw, attract”), Swedish dragga (“to drag, drag anchor, sweep”), Swedish draga (“to draw, go”), Icelandic draga (“to drag, pull”). Doublet of draw.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: draggen, dragen, dragan, draga, *draganą, *dʰregʰ-
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /dɹæɡ/
- British English: /dɹæɡ/
Usage
Inflected Forms
drags (plural)
drags (present, singular)
dragging (participle, present)
dragged (participle, past)
dragged (past)
drug (dialectal, participle)
drug (dialectal, past)
more drag (comparative)
most drag (superlative)