Pulls

Pulls is a term with multiple related meanings across science, everyday language, and specialized domains. In general use, a pull refers to the action of drawing something toward the source by applying a force. The noun can describe the force itself or the act of applying it. The plural pulls can denote multiple instances or types of such forces or actions.

In physics and engineering, a pull is a force directed toward the interaction’s source. It is a contact or non-contact force that can be described by magnitude and direction. Common examples include gravity pulling objects toward Earth, a rope transmitting tension, or a magnet attracting a ferromagnetic object. Pulls contrast with pushes, which act away from the source.

In medicine and sports, “pull” is often used to describe muscle injuries colloquially, as in a pulled muscle or muscle strain. These injuries result from overstretching or tearing of muscle fibers and are typically treated with rest, ice, compression, and gradual rehabilitation. In athletic training, pulls also refer to pulling movements in exercises such as pull-ups, rows, and lat pulls, which target the back and arm muscles and contribute to upper-body strength.

In other contexts, the term appears in technical and organizational language. In software development, the concept of a pull appears in phrases such as pull requests, which are requests to incorporate changes from one code branch into another. In data handling, to pull data means to retrieve it from a database or service. The precise meaning of pulls depends on context, but the core idea remains drawing something toward a source through a force or action.