a. [ Cf. F. extractif. ] 1. Capable of being extracted. “Thirty grains of extractive matter.” Kirwan. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Tending or serving to extract or draw out. [ 1913 Webster ]
Certain branches of industry are conveniently designated extractive: e.g., agriculture, pastoral and mining pursuits, cutting of lumber, etc. Cairnes. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. 1. Anything extracted; an extract. [ 1913 Webster ]
Extractives, of which the most constant are urea, kreatin, and grape sugar. H. N. Martin. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Chem.) (a) A chemical principle once supposed to exist in all extracts. [ Obs. ] (b) Any one of a large class of substances obtained by extraction, and consisting largely of nitrogenous hydrocarbons, such as xanthin, hypoxanthin, and creatin extractives from muscle tissue. [ 1913 Webster ]