Pronunciations (6)
-
/dɹɑːft/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
- Southern-England
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/dɹæft/
Pronunciation notes
- US
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/dɹaft/
Pronunciation notes
- Northern-England
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/dɾaft/
Pronunciation notes
- Scotland
-
dɹɑːft
Pronunciation notes
- GB
-
dɹæft
Noun
Senses relating to a current or flow or an amount which flows: A current of air, usually coming into a room or vehicle.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
Senses relating to a current or flow or an amount which flows: The draw through a flue of gasses or smoke resulting from a combustion process.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
Senses relating to a current or flow or an amount which flows: An act of drinking.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
Senses relating to a current or flow or an amount which flows: The quantity of liquid (such as water, alcohol, or medicine) drunk in one swallow.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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to drink at a draft
She took a deep draft from the bottle of water.
Senses relating to a current or flow or an amount which flows: A dose (of medicine, alcohol, etc.).
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
Senses relating to a current or flow or an amount which flows: Liquid, especially beer or other alcohol, drawn from a cask or keg rather than a bottle or can.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (2)
From 1767 to 1774 no pale wine was bottled but for immediate use; only draft wine of all kinds was used in the principal taverns, and it was often very bad, not from tricks of the vintners, but from bad management.
Another positive trend is the increase of quality in draft cider options. Draft cider has often been, and sometimes still is, considered an inferior product by cider traditionalists, who believe a true cider should come in a bottle or[…]
Senses relating to a current or flow or an amount which flows: The depth of water needed to float a particular ship; the depth from the waterline to the bottom of a vessel's hull; the depth of water drawn by a vessel.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
(Preliminary) written work: A version of a written work (such as a book or paper) or drawing.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- in both American spelling and British spelling
- Examples
-
I have to revise the first draft of my term paper.
His first drafts were better than most authors' final products.
More examples (1)
Dr Richard Beeching's handwritten draft of his report survives in the National Archives.
(Preliminary) written work: An unsent e-mail.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- in both American spelling and British spelling
(Preliminary) written work: A preliminary sketch or outline for a plan.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- in both American spelling and British spelling
(Preliminary) written work: An order for money to be paid; the document that states it: a cheque, note, bond, bill of exchange, money order, or IOU.
Usage- Archaic
- Countable
- Uncountable
- in both American spelling and British spelling
Senses relating to conscription or selection from a pool: Conscription; the system of forcing people to serve in the military.
Usage- Canada
- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- usually
- with the
- in both American spelling and British spelling
- Examples
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He left the country to avoid the draft.
Senses relating to conscription or selection from a pool: A person who has been drafted; a conscript or draftee.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- in both American spelling and British spelling
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
With these counsels, and many others equally valuable, did Papa Wick fortify Bobby ere that last awful night at Portsmouth when the Officers' Quarters held more inmates than were provided for by the Regulations, and the liberty-men of the ships fell foul of the drafts for India, and the battle raged from the Dockyard Gates even to the slums of Longport, while the drabs of Fratton came down and scratched the faces of the Queen's Officers.
Senses relating to conscription or selection from a pool: A system of forcing or convincing people to take an elected position.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- in both American spelling and British spelling
Senses relating to conscription or selection from a pool: A system of assigning rookie players to professional sports teams.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- in both American spelling and British spelling
Senses relating to conscription or selection from a pool: A style of play in collectible card games, where players select from a shared pool of cards.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- in both American spelling and British spelling
Senses relating to conscription or selection from a pool: A quantity that is requisitioned or drawn out from a larger population.
Usage- British
- English
- Archaic
- Countable
- possibly
- Uncountable
- in both American spelling and British spelling
- Examples
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More examples (3)
As an instance: amongst a draft of young hounds from Earl F itzwilliam's was one, of whom Will Deane, his huntsman, made this remark in his letter, 'that he could not guess at Lord Foley's dislike to the hound called Glider, then sent, which was of the best blood in the country, being got by Mr. Meynell's Glider out of Lord Fitzwilliam's Blossom, and was moreover the most promising young hound he had ever entered;...
These drafts left between the 17th March and 28th April. After this there was no regular system of artillery drafts. A draft of 80 was detailed to take charge of horses on board ship as all cavalry drafts were for the time exhausted, and this draft sailed on the 30th June.
The Complaint about the Beef lately furnished for the use of the Troops &c at Parramatta, is not without foundation; when I commenced supplying the several Stations with animal food in January last, — a Draft of very fat Oxen was brought from Wellington for that purpose, — that draft has met the consumption of several Stations until now. — the Cattle lately remaining fell very much off in condition, though I certainly consider they were not inferior to a great deal of Beef, I have seen taken from Contractors.
An earlier draft of horses for the 4th Light Dragoons, however,was very different.
The Light Brigade have got a draft of about 250 horses from England, and we expect ours shortly.
The bevel given to the pattern for a casting, so that it can be drawn from the sand without damaging the mould.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
Senses relating to pulling: The pulling force (tension) on couplers and draft gear during a slack (stretched) condition.
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
Senses relating to pulling: The action or an act (especially of a beast of burden or vehicle) of pulling something along or back.
Usage- US usage
- Archaic
- Countable
- possibly
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
using oxen for draft
shot forth an arrow with a mighty draft
More examples (1)
In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century in the U.S., "strong" ploughs requiring the draft of four and sometimes six oxen were frequently used for breaking land which had previously lain fallow for several years.
Senses relating to pulling: The act of drawing in a net for fish.
Usage- US usage
- Archaic
- Countable
- possibly
- Uncountable
Senses relating to pulling: That which is drawn in; a catch; a haul.
Usage- US usage
- Archaic
- Countable
- possibly
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
He cast his net, which brought him a very great draft.
A valley, or the stream that flows through it: A small stream or tributary.
Usage- Appalachia
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
Crossing several ridges & hollows & two small drafts of water.
Hollows were tributary to a cove or another type of sizable valley threaded by a creek or, in Pennsylvania, a “run,” and in Virginia, a “draft.”
A valley, or the stream that flows through it: A ravine or narrow valley, especially one through which a stream (at least intermittently) flows.
Usage- Appalachia
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- West
- Countable
- especially
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
[page 24:] About one quarter of a mile up the draft, the same blue-gray limestone is opened in a quarry on the Graham and Robinson farm, […] [page 31:] Up along a narrow draft heading south-east from the creek at Southern's place, a series of small pits and trenches have been dug close to the ridge […] above the level of the creek.
Then came the pleasant toil up and down the ridges and drafts of the Knob.
More examples (1)
Now you have left the dividing "backbone", and climb up and down a never-ending succession of ridges and "drafts," as the ravines are called. […] a searching reconnoitre of the next long draft opened to view.
Verb
To write a first version; to make a preliminary sketch.
Usage- Transitive
To draw in outline; to make a draught, sketch, or plan of, as in architectural and mechanical drawing.
To write a law.
To select (someone or something) for a particular role or purpose.
- Examples
-
There was a campaign to draft Smith to run for President.
They drafted me to be the chairperson of the new committee.
More examples (1)
Class "H16" 4-6-2T No. 30516 has been drafted to the Fawley branch and is here seen working a 747-ton test train across Frost Lane crossing, near Hythe, on March 6 [...].
To select (someone or something) for a particular role or purpose. To conscript (a person); to force (a person) to serve in some capacity, especially in the military.
Usage- US usage
- Transitive
- Examples
-
He was drafted during the Vietnam War.
To select (someone or something) for a particular role or purpose. To select and separate an animal or animals from a group.
- Examples
-
The calves were drafted from the cows.
To select (someone or something) for a particular role or purpose. To select a rookie player onto a professional sports team.
Usage- US usage
- Transitive
- Examples
-
After his last year of college football, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins.
To follow very closely (behind another vehicle), thereby providing an aerodynamic advantage to both lead and follower and conserving energy or increasing speed.
Usage- Transitive or intransitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (1)
At the restart, the positions of the Mercedes drivers was reversed. Hamilton drafted Bottas down to Turn One and took the lead around the outside, controlling the race from there.
To draw out; to call forth.
To draw fibers out of a clump, for spinning in the production of yarn.
To play a collectible card game by strategically selecting from a shared pool of cards.
Adjective
Referring to drinks on tap, in contrast to bottled.
Usage- US usage
- not-comparable
- Examples
-
I'd rather have a fresh, cheap draft beer.
Referring to animals used for pulling heavy loads.
Usage- US usage
- not-comparable
- Examples
-
A Clydesdale is a draft horse.
Noun
a document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on another
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
a current of air (usually coming into a chimney or room or vehicle)
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
a preliminary sketch of a design or picture
- Synonyms
a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg
- Broader terms
- Examples
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they served beer on draft
any of the various versions in the development of a written work
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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a preliminary draft
the final draft of the constitution
the depth of a vessel's keel below the surface (especially when loaded)
- Synonyms
a regulator for controlling the flow of air in a fireplace
- Broader terms
a dose of liquid medicine
- Synonyms
- Examples
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he took a sleeping draft
compulsory military service
- Broader terms
a large and hurried swallow
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he finished it at a single gulp
the act of moving a load by drawing or pulling
Verb
draw up an outline or sketch for something
- Synonyms
- Examples
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draft a speech
engage somebody to enter the army
make a blueprint of