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draft

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Draft is a drawing in or pulling of something. (noun)

An example of draft is a truck pulling a trailer.

A draft is air drifting in an enclosed space. (noun)

An example of draft is cold air coming into a room through a window.

Draft means to choose or take someone or something for a special purpose. (verb)

An example of draft is a college football player being chosen for a professional team.

Draft describes something that is used for pulling, drawn from a cask or is in a rough form. (adjective)

An example of draft is a horse that pulls a beer truck.
An example of draft is a beer on tap.
An example of draft is a book without any corrections made.

See draft in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

1. a drawing or pulling, as of a vehicle or load
2. the thing, quantity, or load pulled
1. a drawing in of a fish net
2. the amount of fish caught in one draw
1. a taking of liquid into the mouth; drinking
2. the amount taken at one drink
1. a portion of liquid for drinking; specif., a dose of medicine
2. Informal a portion of beer, ale, etc. drawn from a cask
1. a drawing into the lungs, as of air or tobacco smoke
2. the amount of air, smoke, etc., drawn in
a rough or preliminary sketch of a piece of writing
a plan or drawing of a work to be done
a current of air, as in a room, heating system, etc.
a device for regulating the current of air in a heating system
a written order issued by one person, bank, firm, etc., directing the payment of money to another; check
a demand or drain made on something
1. the choosing or taking of an individual or individuals from a group for some special purpose, esp. for compulsory military service
2. the condition of being so taken
3. ☆ a group of these so taken
☆ the demand made by a political party for a person to accept, sometimes reluctantly, a candidacy
1. the area of reduced air resistance behind a moving vehicle
2. the act or instance of closely following a race car, truck, etc. to avoid wind resistance and conserve fuel
Commerce a deduction allowed for waste or loss in weight
Hydraulics the size of an opening for the flow of water
Masonry a narrow strip along the edge or across the face of a stone, serving as a guide in leveling the surface
Mech. the taper given to a pattern or die so that the work can be removed easily
Naut. the depth of water that a vessel draws, or needs in order to float, esp. when loaded
☆ Sports a system by which a league, as of professional teams, allots to each team the right to contract specified individuals in a group of players, esp. new players, usually by giving each team a turn to select one player until each roster is full

transitive verb

to choose or take for some special purpose, as compulsory military service, by drawing from a group
☆ to persuade or compel (a person) to become a candidate for public office
to make a preliminary sketch of or working plans for
Sports to select (a player) during or in a draft ()

intransitive verb

☆ to drive very closely behind another vehicle while racing, so as to take advantage of the reduced air resistance behind it

adjective

used for pulling loads: draft animals
drawn from a cask on order: draft beer
in a preliminary or rough form: a draft resolution

Related Forms:

draftable adjective
drafter noun

See draft in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(drăft)

noun

A current of air in an enclosed area.
A device that regulates the flow or circulation of air.
a. The act of pulling loads; traction.
b. Something that is pulled or drawn; a load.
c. A team of animals used to pull loads.
Nautical The depth of a vessel's keel below the water line, especially when loaded: a river vessel of shallow draft.
A heavy demand on resources.
A written order directing the payment of money from an account or fund.
a. A gulp, swallow, or inhalation.
b. The amount taken in by a single act of drinking or inhaling.
c. A measured portion; a dose.
a. The drawing of a liquid, as from a cask or keg.
b. An amount drawn: ordered two drafts of ale.
a. The process or method of selecting one or more individuals from a group, as for a service or duty: a candidate who did not pursue the nomination, but accepted a draft by the party convention.
b. Compulsory enrollment in the armed forces; conscription.
c. A body of people selected or conscripted.
Sports A system in which the exclusive rights to new players are distributed among professional teams.
a. The act of drawing in a fishnet.
b. The quantity of fish caught.
a. Any of various stages in the development of a plan, document, or picture: a preliminary draft of a report; the final draft of a paper.
b. A representation of something to be constructed.
A narrow line chiseled on a stone to guide a stonecutter in leveling its surface.
A slight taper given a die to facilitate the removal of a casting.
An allowance made for loss in weight of merchandise.

verb draft·ed, draft·ing, drafts

verb, transitive

To select from a group for some usually compulsory service: drafted into the army.
To select from a group for placement on a sports team.
To draw up a preliminary version of or plan for.
To create by thinking and writing; compose: draft a speech.

verb, intransitive