extraction

Universal Words noun 1 [U,C] the act or process of removing or obtaining sth from sth else: oil / mineral / coal extraction * the extraction of salt from the sea * Commercial peat extraction is destroying many threatened habitats. * Methods of extraction vary from mine to mine. 2 [U] of...extraction (formal) having a particular family origin: an American of Hungarian extraction 3 [C] (technical) the removal of a tooth: I didn't like having my teeth drilled but extractions were infinitely worse.