-io

an action, process, or result

Forms

-io
-ion- — The longer form used before Latin endings.
-ion — The form carried into many English nouns.

Origin

An old Latin noun ending, inherited from earlier Indo-European word formation.

Note

The ending can name both an activity and what that activity produces.

357 / 371

noun

traction

TRAK-shun/ˈtrækʃn/

Grip enabling movement against a surface.

The bicycle tire's tread provides traction on the rough gravel.

Bicycle tire tread gripping rough gravel.

Etymology

tractLatindraw, pull, drag

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

The underlying idea is pulling. From the action of drawing a body along a surface, traction came to mean the frictional grip between a wheel and the surface it moves over.

In context

Street Survival - Advanced Driving1:16

think about the difference between walking on dry pavement versus trying to walk on a sheet of ice. That massive difference in grip, that's traction.

Vehicle Traction Explained: How Grip, Speed & Control Save Lives

More examples

My boots lose traction on the icy steps.
Snow chains improve traction when the road is slippery.
The proposal gains traction as more neighbors support it.

Forms

traction

Similar words

grip: Grip also describes a firm hold by a hand.
friction: Friction is resistance between surfaces, which can provide traction.