[noncount]

1 a : the force that causes a moving thing to stick against the surface it is moving along

• These tires get good tractionon wet roads.
• A patch of ice caused the car to lose traction.

1 b : the power that is used to pull something

• steam traction

2 medical : a way of treating broken bones in which a device gently pulls the bones back into place

• She was in traction for three weeks after she broke her hip.

3 informal : the support, interest, etc., that is needed for something to succeed or make progress

• The bill failed to gain traction in the Senate.
• We didn’t get traction on this idea until the board took interest.