traction
Tire's road hold
Traction is the grip between a surface and something moving across it—a tire's traction on wet pavement, a boot's traction on ice.
From this physical sense comes the figurative: to gain traction is to build momentum or acceptance.
The idea struggled at first but eventually gained traction.
In medicine, traction is a sustained pulling force applied to bones or muscles, often using weights and pulleys to treat fractures or alignment problems.
Forward progress achieved
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- forward motionMovement toward the front
- breakthroughSudden important advance
footing · foothold · gaining ground · uptake · acceptance · support · influence · toehold
Resistance between touching surfaces
- tire gripWheel-to-road friction
- treadsOuter tire surfaces
- cleatsSpiked sports shoes
- studsStructural wall timbers
rubber · tread pattern · non-slip · anti-skid · purchase · foothold · bite · snow tires
Force driving movement forward
- driveOperate a vehicle
- pulling powerCapacity to attract interest
- torqueRotational force measurement
- adhesionState of clinging fast
horsepower · hauling · draft
Heavy objects for lifting
- pulleysGrooved wheels for rope
- immobilizationPreventing movement entirely
- orthopedicRelating to bone treatment
- physiotherapyTreatment restoring bodily function
Product of mass, velocity
- market penetrationSales presence in sector
- growthIncrease in size
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
funding · scalability · metrics · KPIs · startup · early adopters · revenue · customer acquisition
headway
Forward progress achieved
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- forward motionMovement toward the front
breakthrough · footing · foothold · gaining ground · uptake · acceptance · support · influence · toehold · purchase
friction
Resistance between touching surfaces
studs · rubber · tread pattern · non-slip · anti-skid · purchase · foothold · bite · snow tires · chains
propulsion
Force driving movement forward
- driveOperate a vehicle
- pulling powerCapacity to attract interest
- torqueRotational force measurement
adhesion · horsepower · hauling · draft
weights
Heavy objects for lifting
- pulleysGrooved wheels for rope
- immobilizationPreventing movement entirely
- orthopedicRelating to bone treatment
physiotherapy · rehabilitation · manual therapy · cervical collar · slings
momentum
Product of mass, velocity
- market penetrationSales presence in sector
- growthIncrease in size
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
validation · funding · scalability · metrics · KPIs · startup · early adopters · revenue · customer acquisition · buzz
- frictionfriction, rubbing, abrading, friction burn, rolling friction
- off-roadingoff-road, 4x4s, ATVs, 4WD, four-wheel drive
- shoe featuresgel insoles, shock absorption, arch support, grip, cushioned insoles
- non-slip surfacesnon-slip, grip, grippy, treads, anti-skid
- shoe partssole, heel, toe, insole, outsole
- startup jargonMVP, fail fast, scaling, unicorn, disrupt
tractionstagnation
Absence of flow or progress
inertia · standstill · rejection · failure to launch · dead end
tractioncompression
Forcing into smaller space
push · pressure · compaction
- gain traction
- gaining tractionBecoming more popular
- gained traction
- traction controlSystem limiting wheel spin
distracting, contracting, subtracting, tractions, contractility, contractible