draft
a drawing, sketch, or design.
a first or preliminary form of any writing, subject to revision, copying, etc.
the act of drawing; delineation.
a current of air in any enclosed space, especially in a room, chimney, or stove.
a current of air moving in an upward or downward direction.
a device for regulating the current of air in a stove, fireplace, etc.
an act of drawing or pulling loads.
something that is drawn or pulled; a haul.
an animal or team of animals used to pull a load.
the force required to pull a load.
the taking of supplies, forces, money, etc., from a given source.
a selection or drawing of persons, by lot or otherwise, from the general body of the people for military service; levy; conscription.
the persons so selected.
Sports. a selecting or drawing of new players from a choice group of amateur players by professional teams, especially a system of selecting new players so that each team in a professional league receives some of the most promising players.
British. a selection of persons already in military service to be sent from one post or organization to another; detachment.
a written order drawn by one person upon another; a writing directing the payment of money on account of the drawer; bill of exchange.
a drain or demand made on anything.
an act of drinking or inhaling.
something that is taken in by drinking or inhaling; a drink; dose.
a quantity of fish caught.
Nautical. the depth to which a vessel is immersed when bearing a given load.
Also called leave. Metallurgy. the slight taper given to a pattern so that it may be drawn from the sand without injury to the mold.
Metalworking.
the change in sectional area of a piece of work caused by a rolling or drawing operation.
a taper on a die or punch permitting it to be withdrawn readily from the work.
Masonry. a line or border chiseled at the edge of a stone, to serve as a guide in leveling the surfaces.
Textiles.
the degree of attenuation produced in fibers during yarn processing, expressed either by the ratio of the weight of raw fiber to the weight of processed fiber, or by the ratio between the varying surface speeds of the rollers on the carding machine.
the act of attenuating the fibers.
an allowance granted to a buyer for waste of goods sold by weight.
to draw or pull.
to take or select by draft, especially for military service.
Masonry. to cut a draft on.
to do mechanical drawing; work as a draftsman.
(in a race) to drive or ride close behind another car or bicycle so as to benefit from the reduction in air pressure created behind it.
used or suited for drawing loads: These oxen are fine draft animals.
drawn or available to be drawn from a cask rather than served from a sealed bottle: draft ale.
being a tentative or preliminary outline, version, design, or sketch.
Idioms about draft
on draft, available to be drawn from a cask rather than from a sealed bottle: imported beer on draft.
Origin of draft
1- Also especially British, draught [draft, drahft] /dræft, drɑft/ (for defs. 1, 3-10, 18-25, 28-33, 35-38) .
Other words from draft
- draft·a·ble, adjective
- draft·er, noun
- an·ti·draft, adjective
- pre·draft, noun, verb (used with object)
- re·draft, verb (used with object)
- un·draft·a·ble, adjective
- un·draft·ed, adjective
Words that may be confused with draft
- draft , draught
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for draft
/ (drɑːft) /
a plan, sketch, or drawing of something
a preliminary outline of a book, speech, etc
another word for bill of exchange
a demand or drain on something
the divergent duct leading from a water turbine to its tailrace
US selection for compulsory military service
detachment of military personnel from one unit to another
commerce an allowance on merchandise sold by weight
a line or narrow border that is chiselled on the surface of a stone to serve as a guide for levelling it
Australian and NZ a group of livestock separated from the rest of the herd or flock
to draw up an outline or sketch for something: to draft a speech
to prepare a plan or design of
to detach (military personnel) from one unit to another
mainly US to select for compulsory military service
to chisel a draft on (stone, etc)
Australian and NZ
to select (cattle or sheep) from a herd or flock
to select (farm stock) for sale
the usual US spelling of draught (def. 1), draught (def. 2), draught (def. 3), draught (def. 4), draught (def. 5), draught (def. 6), draught (def. 7), draught (def. 8), draught (def. 11)
Origin of draft
1Derived forms of draft
- drafter, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for draft (1 of 2)
A preliminary version of a book, speech, essay, or outline.
A system for selecting young men for compulsory military service, administered in the United States by the Selective Service System. At present the United States relies on a volunteer military and does not have a draft, though young men are required by law to register with the Selective Service. (See also conscientious objector and draft dodger.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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