ATTRACT
attract
(verb) exert a force on (a body) causing it to approach or prevent it from moving away; “the gravitational pull of a planet attracts other bodies”
attract, pull, pull in, draw, draw in
(verb) direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes; “Her good looks attract the stares of many men”; “The ad pulled in many potential customers”; “This pianist pulls huge crowds”; “The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers”
attract, appeal
(verb) be attractive to; “The idea of a vacation appeals to me”; “The beautiful garden attracted many people”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
attract (third-person singular simple present attracts, present participle attracting, simple past and past participle attracted)
To pull toward without touching.
To arouse interest.
To draw by moral, emotional or sexual influence; to engage or fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure.
Synonyms
• allure
Antonyms
• repel
Source: Wiktionary
At*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attracted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attracting.] Etym: [L. attractus, p. p. of attrahere; ad + trahere to
draw. See Trace, v. t.]
1. To draw to, or cause to tend to; esp. to cause to approach,
adhere, or combine; or to cause to resist divulsion, separation, or
decomposition.
All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually attract themselves and
one another. Derham.
2. To draw by influence of a moral or emotional kind; to engage or
fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure; as, to
attract admirers.
Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. Milton.
Syn.
– To draw; allure; invite; entice; influence.
At*tract", n.
Definition: Attraction. [Obs.] Hudibras.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition