de|tract´ing|ly

de|tract´ing|ly
de|tract «dih TRAKT», intransitive verb.
1. to take away a part; remove some of the quality or worth: »

The ugly frame detracts from the beauty of the picture. Modernizing the building's facade would…enhance, rather than detract from the character of the neighborhood (New York Times).

 SYNONYM(S): depreciate, derogate.
2. to speak disparagingly: »

That critic is always detracting in his remarks.

SYNONYM(S): decry.
–v.t.
1. to take away (a part) from a whole; remove (some of the quality or worth); withdraw; subtract; abate: »

The ugly frame detracts something from the beauty of the picture. The defect detracts little from the intrinsic value.

2. Archaic. to disparage; belittle; defame.
3. Obsolete. to draw away.
╂[< Latin dētractus, past participle of dētrahere < dē- away + trahere draw]
–de|tract´ing|ly, adverb.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • dis|tract´ing|ly — dis|tract|ing «dihs TRAK tihng», adjective. that distracts: »Noises are distracting to a person trying to study. –dis|tract´ing|ly, adverb. –dis|tract´ing|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • dis|tract|ing — «dihs TRAK tihng», adjective. that distracts: »Noises are distracting to a person trying to study. –dis|tract´ing|ly, adverb. –dis|tract´ing|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • dis|tract´ing|ness — dis|tract|ing «dihs TRAK tihng», adjective. that distracts: »Noises are distracting to a person trying to study. –dis|tract´ing|ly, adverb. –dis|tract´ing|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • tract — ac·e·tract; at·tract; at·tract·a·ble; at·tract·ance; at·tract·ant; at·tract·ing·ly; con·tract·able; con·tract·ant; con·tract·ile; con·tract·less; con·tract·om·e·ter; de·tract; de·tract·er; de·tract·ing·ly; dis·tract·ed·ly; dis·tract·ibil·i·ty;… …   English syllables

  • de|tract — «dih TRAKT», intransitive verb. 1. to take away a part; remove some of the quality or worth: »The ugly frame detracts from the beauty of the picture. Modernizing the building s facade would…enhance, rather than detract from the character of the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • shoot|ing — «SHOO tihng», noun. 1. the act of a person or thing that shoots. 2. a shoot or sprout. 3. the exclusive right to kill game on a particular tract: »Gentlemen…combine and lease the shooting over wide areas (Richard Jefferie). 4. the tract itself …   Useful english dictionary

  • prov|ing ground — «PROO vihng», 1. a place, usually a large tract of land, for testing equipment, especially military weapons, vehicles, and other equipment: »The island is studded with the hallmark of the proving ground: towers (Newsweek). 2. any place that… …   Useful english dictionary

  • salt|ing — «SL tihng», noun. 1. the act of a person or thing that salts. 2. British. a tract of land overflowed times by the sea: »At the bridge of the lower saltings the cattle gather and blare (Rudyard Kipling) …   Useful english dictionary

  • attractingly — at·tract·ing·ly …   English syllables

  • detractingly — de·tract·ing·ly …   English syllables

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