draw

¹draw

verb \ˈdrȯ\

drew\ˈdrü\drawn\ˈdrȯn, ˈdrän\draw·ing

Definition of DRAW

transitive verb

1

: to cause to move continuously toward or after a force applied in advance : pull <draw your chair up by the fire>: as a : to move (as a covering) over or to one side <draw the drapes> b : to pull up or out of a receptacle or place where seated or carried <draw water from the well> <drew a gun>; also : to cause to come out of a container or source <draw water for a bath> <the nurse drew a blood sample> <the wound drew blood>

2

: to cause to go in a certain direction (as by leading) <drew him aside>

3

a : to bring by inducement or allure : attract <honey draws flies> b : to bring in or gather from a specified group or area <a college that draws its students from many states> c : bring on, provoke <drew enemy fire> d : to bring out by way of response : elicit <drew cheers from the audience> e : to receive in the course of play <the batter drew a walk> <draw a foul>

4

: inhale <drew a deep breath>

5

a : to extract the essence from <draw tea> b : eviscerate <plucking and drawing a goose before cooking> c : to derive to one's benefit <drew inspiration from the old masters>

6

: to require (a specified depth) to float in <a ship that draws 12 feet of water>

7

a : accumulate, gain <drawing interest> b : to take (money) from a place of deposit c : to use in making a cash demand <drawing a check against his account> d : to receive regularly or in due course <draw a salary>

8

a : to take (cards) from a stack or from the dealer b : to receive or take at random <drew a winning number>

9

: to bend (a bow) by pulling back the string

10

: to cause to shrink, contract, or tighten

11

a : to strike (a ball) so as to impart a backward spin b : to strike (a golf ball) so that a slight to moderate hook results

12

: to leave (a contest) undecided : tie

13

a (1) : to produce a likeness or representation of by making lines on a surface <draw a picture> <draw a graph with chalk> (2) : to give a portrayal of : delineate <a writer who draws characters well> b : to write out in due form <draw a will> c : to design or describe in detail : formulate <draw comparisons>

14

: to infer from evidence or premises <draw a conclusion>

15

: to spread or elongate (metal) by hammering or by pulling through dies; also : to shape (as plastic) by stretching or by pulling through dies

intransitive verb

1

: to come or go steadily or gradually <night draws near>

2

a : to move something by pulling <drawing at the well> b : to exert an attractive force <the play is drawing well>

3

a : to pull back a bowstring b : to bring out a weapon <drew, aimed, and fired>

4

a : to produce a draft <the chimney draws well> <draw on a cigar> b : to swell out in a wind <all sails drawing>

5

a : to wrinkle or tighten up : shrink b : to change shape by pulling or stretching

6

: to cause blood or pus to localize at one point

7

: to create a likeness or a picture in outlines : sketch

8

: to come out even in a contest

9

a : to make a written demand for payment of money on deposit b : to obtain resources (as of information) <drawing from a common fund of knowledge>

— draw·able \-ə-bəl\ adjective

— draw a bead on

: to take aim at

— draw a blank

: to fail to gain a desired object (as information sought); also : to be unable to think of something

— draw on or draw upon

: to use as a source of supply <drawing on the whole community for support>

— draw straws

: to decide or assign something by lottery in which straws of unequal length are used

— draw the line or draw a line

1

: to fix an arbitrary boundary between things that tend to intermingle

2

: to fix a boundary excluding what one will not tolerate or engage in

Examples of DRAW

1. The computer can draw the graph for you.
2. Students drew maps of the states and labeled them.
3. She sat down and began to draw.
4. The case has drawn attention to the fact that many athletes never graduate.
5. I would like to draw your attention to the third line.
6. The band always draws a large crowd.
7. The college draws students from around the world.
8. The animals were drawn to the campsite by the smell of food.
9. We hope the display in the window will draw customers in from the street.
10. The lure of city life has drawn away many of the town's young people.

Origin of DRAW

Middle English drawen, dragen, from Old English dragan; akin to Old Norse draga to draw, drag

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to DRAW

Synonyms: picture

Antonyms: drive, propel, push

Related Words: caricature, cartoon; crayon, ink, pencil; outline, profile; scrawl, scribble, sketch

Near Antonyms: shove, thrust

see all synonyms and antonyms

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