Raft

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɹɑːft/
• US IPA: /ɹæft/
• Rhymes: -ɑːft

From Scandinavian; compare West Old Norse raptr ("rafter"), Norwegian raft ("beam, rafter"), Danish raft ("thin pole"). Compare also Albanian trap ("raft, ferry").

Full definition of raft

Noun

1. A flat structure made of planks, barrels etc., that floats on water, and is used for transport, emergencies or a platform for swimmers.
2. A flat-bottomed inflatable craft for floating or drifting on water.
3. A thick crowd of seabirds or sea mammals.
4. (US) A collection of logs, fallen trees, etc. which obstructs navigation in a river.
5. (slang, informal) A large collection of people or things taken indiscriminately.
• W. D. Howellsa whole raft of folks

Derived terms

• life raft

Verb

1. (transitive) to convey on a raft
2. (transitive) to make into a raft
3. (intransitive) to travel by raft

Related terms

• rafter
• whitewater rafting

Alteration of raff.

Noun

1. A large (but unspecified) number, a lot.
• 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge 2008, p. 31:Among those arrested was the grand master himself, Jacques de Molay, who found himself facing a raft of charges based on the specious evidence of former knights ....

Verb

1. raft

   (past of reave)

Anagrams

• fart
• frat
• RTFA
• traf, TRAF