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¹draft

noun \ˈdraft, ˈdräft\

: a version of something (such as a document) that you make before you make the final version

: cool air moving in a closed space (such as a room)

: a system in which young people are required to join the armed forces of a country for a period of service

Full Definition of DRAFT

a : the act of drawing a net

b : haul 2b

a : the act or an instance of drinking or inhaling; also : the portion drunk or inhaled in one such act

b : a portion poured out or mixed for drinking : dose

a : the force required to pull an implement

b : load or load-pulling capacity

a : the act of moving loads by drawing or pulling : pull

b : a team of animals together with what they draw

a : delineation, representation

b : scheme, design

c : a preliminary sketch, outline, or version <the author's first draft> <a draft treaty>

: the act, result, or plan of drawing out or stretching

a : the act of drawing (as from a cask)

b : a portion of liquid so drawn <a draft of ale>

c : draft beer <a glass of draft>

: the depth of water a ship draws especially when loaded

a (1) : a system for or act of selecting individuals from a group (as for compulsory military service) (2) : an act or process of selecting an individual (as for political candidacy) without the individual's expressed consent

b : a group of individuals selected especially by military draft

c : a system whereby exclusive rights to selected new players are apportioned among professional teams

a : an order for the payment of money drawn by one person or bank on another

b : the act or an instance of drawing from or making demands upon something : demand

a : a current of air in a closed-in space <felt a draft>

b : a device for regulating the flow of air (as in a fireplace)

: angle, taper; specifically : the taper given to a pattern or die so that the work can be easily withdrawn

: a pocket of reduced air pressure behind a moving object; also : the use of such a draft to save energy

— on draft

: ready to be drawn from a receptacle <beer on draft>

See draft defined for English-language learners

See draft defined for kids

Origin of DRAFT

Middle English draght; akin to Old English dragan to draw — more at draw

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DRAFT

Synonyms: burden, cargo, load, freight, haul, lading, loading, payload, weight

Rhymes with DRAFT

aft, craft, graft, haft, kraft, raft, shaft, waft

²draft

adjective

of an animal : used for pulling heavy loads

of beer : stored in and poured from a large container

: not yet in the final form

Full Definition of DRAFT

: used or adapted for drawing loads <draft horses>

: being or having been on draft <drinking draft beer>

See draft defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of DRAFT

15th century

Other Alcoholic Beverage Terms

finish, gimlet, mull, sake, setup, sommelier, syllabub, vintner, wassail

³draft

verb

: to make a version of (something, such as a document or plan) that will need more work in order to be finished

: to choose (someone) for a special purpose

: to officially order (someone) to join the armed forces

Full Definition of DRAFT

transitive verb

: to select for some purpose: as

a : to conscript for military service

b : to select (a professional athlete) by draft

a : to draw the preliminary sketch, version, or plan of <draft legislation>

b : compose, prepare <draft a memo>

: to draw off or away <water drafted by pumps>

: to stay close behind (another racer) so as to take advantage of the reduced air pressure created by the leading racer

intransitive verb

: to practice draftsmanship

: to draft another racer (as in car or bike racing)

— draft·able \ˈdraf-tə-bəl, ˈdräf-\ adjective

— draft·ee \ˌdraf-ˈtē, ˌdräf-\ noun

— draft·er \ˈdraf-tər, ˈdräf-\ noun

See draft defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of DRAFT

1714

Related to DRAFT

Synonyms: conscribe, conscript, levy

Antonyms: fill

DRAFTEE Defined for Kids

¹draft

noun \ˈdraft, ˈdräft\

Definition of DRAFT for Kids

: a version of something written or drawn (as an essay, document, or plan) that has or will have more than one version <I finished the rough draft of my report.>

: a current of air

: a device to regulate an air supply (as in a fireplace)

: the act of pulling or hauling : the thing or amount pulled <a beast of draft>

: the act or an instance of drinking or inhaling : the portion drunk or inhaled at one time <He took a draft of his drink.>

: the act of drawing out liquid (as from a cask) : a portion of liquid drawn out <a draft of beer>

: the depth of water a ship needs in order to float

: the practice of ordering people into military service

: the practice of choosing someone to play on a professional sports team

: an order made by one person or organization to another to pay money to a third person or organization