Definition of draft
1 fishing a : the act of drawing or pulling in a netb : haul 2b a draft of fish
2a : the act or an instance of drinking or inhaling a last draft on her cigarette; also : the portion drunk or inhaled in one such actb : a portion poured out or mixed for drinking : dose
3 mechanical engineering a : the force required to pull a plow or other implementb : load or load-pulling capacity the draft of a typical draft horse
4a : the act of moving loads by drawing or pulling : pullb : a team of animals together with what they draw
5a : delineation, representation a draft for a future skyscraperb : scheme, designc : a preliminary sketch, outline, or version the author's first draft a draft treaty
6 : the act, result, or plan of lengthening or stretching something (such as threads or metal)
7a : the act of causing a liquid to come out of a container or source : the act of drawing (as from a cask or keg)b : a portion of liquid so drawn a draft of alec : draft (see 2draft 2) beer a glass of draft
8 nautical : the depth of water a ship draws (see 1draw transitive 6) especially when loaded
on draft
Read the Latest from M-W
Examples of draft in a Sentence
The published poem differs quite a bit from earlier drafts.
You may want to seal the windows with plastic to stop drafts.
Origin and Etymology of draft
Middle English draght; akin to Old English dragan to draw — more at draw
First Known Use: 13th century
draft
Definition of draft
1 animal husbandry : used or adapted for drawing loads draft horses
2 : being or having been ready to be drawn from a receptacle : being or having been on draft drinking draft beer
Origin and Etymology of draft
see 1draft
First Known Use: 15th century
draft
Definition of draft
transitive verb
1 : to select for some purpose: such asa : to conscript for military service was drafted and sent overseasb sports : to select (a professional athlete) by draft got drafted by the Yankees
2a : to draw the preliminary sketch, version, or plan of draft legislationb : compose, prepare draft a memo
3 : to draw off or away water drafted by pumps
4 racing sports : to stay close behind (another racer) so as to take advantage of the reduced air pressure created by the leading racer
intransitive verb
1 : to practice draftsmanship
2 racing sports : to draft another racer (as in car or bike racing)
Examples of draft in a Sentence
The two countries are drafting a treaty.
The drama club drafted three teenagers to be in the parade.
The legislature debated drafting more soldiers.
The new rule prohibits teams from drafting players under 18.
Origin and Etymology of draft
see 1draft
First Known Use: 1714
DRAFT Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of draft for English Language Learners
-
: 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
draft
Definition of draft for English Language Learners
-
of an animal : used for pulling heavy loads
-
of beer : stored in and poured from a large container
-
: not yet in the final form
draft
Definition of draft for English Language Learners
-
: 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
DRAFT Defined for Kids
Definition of draft for Students
1 : 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.
2 : a current of air
3 : a device to regulate an air supply (as in a fireplace)
4 : the act of pulling or hauling : the thing or amount pulled a beast of draft
5 : the act or an instance of drinking or inhaling : the portion drunk or inhaled at one time He took a draft of his drink.
6 : the act of drawing out liquid (as from a cask) : a portion of liquid drawn out a draft of beer
7 : the depth of water a ship needs in order to float
8 : the practice of ordering people into military service
Definition of draft for Students
1 : used for pulling loads a draft animal
2 : not in final form a draft report
3 : ready to be drawn from a container draft beer
Definition of draft for Students
drafted
;drafting
1 : to write or draw a version of something (as an essay or plan) that usually needs more work
2 : to choose someone to do something Mom drafted us to clean the garage.
3 : to pick especially for required military service
Medical Dictionary
Law Dictionary
draft
Legal Definition of draft
1 : a preliminary version of something (as a law)
2a : a system for or act of selecting individuals from a group (as for military service) b : the act or process of selecting an individual (as for political candidacy) without his or her expressed consent
3 : an order for the payment of money drawn by one person or bank on another — see also drawee, drawer — compare check documentary draft : a draft that will be honored only upon the presentation of certain documents (as an invoice or certificate of title) sight draft : a draft payable on presentation time draft : a draft payable a specified number of days after the date of the draft or of its presentation
draft
Legal Definition of draft
1 : to select for some purpose; specifically : to conscript for military service
2 : to compose or prepare especially the preliminary version of drafting legislation
intransitive verb
: to practice draftsmanship
drafter
nounLearn More about draft
-
See words that rhyme with draft Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for draft Spanish Central: Translation of draft Nglish: Translation of draft for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of draft for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about draft
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up draft? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!