Draft

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /dɹɑːft/
• US IPA: /dɹæft/
• Homophones: draught
• Rhymes: -ɑːft

Origin

Middle English draught ("drawing, pull, stroke, etc."), from Old English dragan ("to draw, drag"); see draw.

Full definition of draft

Noun

1. An early version of a written workI have to revise the first draft of my term paper.
2. A preliminary sketch, rough outlineHis first drafts were better than most authors' final products.
3. (nautical) Depth of water needed to float a ship spelled draught.
4. A current of air, usually coming into a room or vehicle spelled draught.
5. Draw through a flue of gasses (smoke) resulting from a combustion process.
6. A cheque, an order for money to be paid
7. An amount of liquid that is drunk in one swallow spelled draughtShe took a deep draft from the bottle of water.
8. conscription, the system of forcing people to serve in the military.He left the country to avoid the draft.
9. (sports) A system of assigning rookie players to professional sports teams
10. (rail transport) the pulling force (tension) on couplers and draft gear during a slack stretched condition.

Synonyms

• (mouthful of liquid) See also

Verb

1. (transitive) to write a first version, make a preliminary sketch.
2. to write a law
3. (transitive) to conscript a person, force a person to serve in the military
• He was drafted during the Vietnam War.
4. to select and separate an animal or animals from a group.
• The calves were drafted from the cows.
5. (transitive, politics) to force or convince a person to take an elected position they are not interested in
• They drafted me to be the chairperson of the new committee.
6. (transitive, sports) to select a rookie player onto a professional sports team
• After his last year of college football, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins.
7. (intransitive) To follow very closely behind another vehicle, thereby providing an aerodynamic advantage to both lead and follower, thereby conserving energy or increasing speed.
8. the act of drawing fibers out of a clump, for spinning in the production of yarn

Adjective

1. (not comparable) Referring to drinks on tap, in contrast to bottledI'd rather have a fresh, cheap draft beer.

Related terms

• draw