verb | noun
pullpull1 /pʊl/ verb 1 
to use your hands to move something toward you► pull to use your hands to move something toward you: When I count to three, start pulling the rope. She pulled the door open and hurried inside.
► tug to pull something suddenly with a quick movement, often to get someone’s attention: “I’m hungry,” the little boy said, tugging at his mother’s skirt.
► drag to pull something along the ground, often because it is too heavy to carry: The mattress was too heavy, so we had to drag it into the room.
► haul to pull something big and heavy using a lot of effort, especially using a rope: They were hauling their boats farther up the beach.
► draw (formal) to pull something or someone gently in a particular direction: He put his arm around her and drew her closer.
► yank (informal) to pull something with a sudden strong movement: She yanked on the cord and the parachute opened.
ANTONYMS ➔ see push1 (1)2 to make something move behind you► pull to make something move behind you in the direction you are moving. Pull is often used when animals or heavy vehicles make something move in this way: The car was pulling a camper behind it. The queen’s carriage was pulled by two white horses.
► tow to pull a vehicle along using a rope or chain: He parked the car by a fire hydrant, and the police towed it away.
3 to remove something from its place by using force► pull to remove something from its place, especially using your hands and using force: Vicky had pulled the arm off her doll. Daniela pulled the phone out of her brother's hands and walked away with it.
► tear to pull something violently from a person or place: He tore the letter from my hand. The storm almost tore the roof off the house.
► pry to pull something that is stuck tightly in or on another thing: The child would not let go of the toy - his mother had to pry it out of his hands. ➔ You also use pry to talk about forcing something open, such as a door, by using an object to help you: The police used a long iron bar to pry open the door.
► pluck to pull something small from something that is larger: She reached up and plucked an apple off the tree.
► extract AWL to remove something from a place where it grows or from a place that it is part of. You use extract about things like teeth or things that you get from under the ground, such as oil or minerals: The dentist is going to extract my wisdom teeth. Next month, the company will begin extracting oil and gas from under the farmland south of the city.
➔ see remove verb | noun
pullpull2 /pʊl/ noun ► pull the act of using force to move something toward you or in the same direction as you are going: I gave the door a pull, but it did not open. One more strong pull will get the sofa through the door.
► tug a quick pull, often to get someone’s attention: I felt a tug on my skirt and turned to see what the little boy wanted.
► yank (informal) a quick strong pull: When you tie the cord, give it a yank to make sure it is tight.
ANTONYMS ➔ see push2