# draft

Pronunciation: US say "DRAFT" /dɹæft/; UK say "DRAHFT" /dɹɑːft/

## Noun

1. An early or preliminary version of a piece of writing, drawing, or plan, made before the final form.
   - Simple: An early version of a piece of writing, a drawing, or a plan, before it is finished.
   - _The author shared an early draft of the novel with her editor._
   - _He revised the draft three times before submitting the paper._
2. A system by which professional sports teams select new rookie players. *(US)*
   - Simple: A yearly event where pro sports teams pick new young players.
   - _She was the first woman selected in the league's draft._
   - _The franchise traded up to gain a higher pick in the draft._
5. A current of air, especially one coming into a room or vehicle, or one drawn up through a chimney or flue.
   - Simple: A stream of air coming into a room, or air pulled up a chimney.
   - _A draft from the open window made the candle flicker._
   - _He sat away from the door to avoid the chilly draft._
6. Conscription; the compulsory enlistment of people for military service. *(Canada, US)*
   - Simple: The system of making people join the army, whether they want to or not.
   - _He was opposed to the draft and refused to serve._
   - _The government ended the draft and moved to an all-volunteer force._
9. Beer or other alcohol drawn straight from a cask or keg rather than from a bottle or can.
   - Simple: Beer or another drink poured straight from a barrel, not from a bottle or can.
   - _The pub poured a fresh draft for each customer._
   - _She prefers draft to the canned version of the same beer._
14. An email that has been written but not yet sent.
   - Simple: An email you have written but not sent yet.
   - _He left the reply as a draft and forgot to send it._
   - _She found an old draft she had never sent._
12. The depth of water a vessel needs to float, measured from the waterline to the bottom of its hull.
   - Simple: How deep a boat sits in the water, from the surface to its bottom.
   - _The captain checked the ship's draft before crossing the sandbar._
   - _A loaded tanker has a much greater draft than an empty one._
13. A written order directing a bank or other party to pay a stated sum to someone, or the document that carries it, such as a check, money order or bill of exchange.
   - Simple: A written order telling a bank or person to pay money.
   - _The bank issued a draft payable to the supplier._
   - _She presented the draft for payment at the counter._
17. A system of pressuring or persuading people to run for and accept an elected office. *(US)*
   - Simple: A way of pushing or persuading people to run for and take an elected job.
   - _Party leaders, unhappy with the declared candidates, launched a quiet draft movement to coax the popular governor into the race._
   - _Despite a growing draft campaign online, the retired general insisted he had no interest in running for office._
18. An act of drinking, or the amount of liquid swallowed in one gulp.
   - Simple: One swallow of a drink, or the amount you drink in one swallow.
   - _He drained his mug in a single draft._
   - _She took a long draft of ale after the hike._

## Verb

3. To write a first or preliminary version of a document, such as a letter, report, proposal, or piece of legislation.
   - Simple: To write the first version of something, such as a letter, plan, or law.
   - _The committee drafted a proposal for the new park._
   - _He will draft the opening chapter this weekend._
4. Of a professional sports team, to choose a rookie to join its roster. *(US)*
   - Simple: To pick a young player for a pro sports team.
   - _The franchise drafted three defenders in a single year._
   - _Scouts urged the club to draft the young goalkeeper._
7. To conscript a person; to compel someone to serve, especially in the military. *(US)*
   - Simple: To order someone to join the army whether they want to or not.
   - _The government drafted young men to fill the ranks._
   - _Officials threatened to draft any able-bodied citizen._
10. To pick out a person or thing and assign it to a specific role or purpose.
   - Simple: To choose someone or something for a certain job or use.
   - _Organizers drafted several volunteers to manage the booths._
   - _The committee will draft an expert to lead the review._
11. To draw something in outline; to make a sketch, plan, or technical drawing of, as in architecture or engineering.
   - Simple: To draw plans or designs of something, such as a building or machine.
   - _Engineers draft detailed blueprints for every component._
   - _He drafted the bridge design over several weeks._
16. To follow closely behind another vehicle or competitor, such as a race car or cyclist, using its slipstream to cut air resistance and save energy or gain speed.
   - Simple: To drive or ride very close behind another vehicle to save energy by cutting through less air.
   - _Marathon runners sometimes draft behind a pacer to reduce wind resistance._
   - _The trailing cyclist drafted within inches of the leader's rear wheel._
20. To cut one or more animals out of a larger group and keep them apart from the rest.
   - Simple: To pick out and separate an animal from the rest of a herd or flock.
   - _Stockmen draft the calves before sending the cows back to pasture._
   - _She drafted the ewes that needed shearing into a separate pen._

## Adjective

8. Of a drink, served on tap rather than from a bottle.
   - Simple: Served from a tap or barrel instead of a bottle or can.
   - _The menu lists several draft options alongside the bottled selection._
   - _During happy hour the bar sells its draft lager for half price._
15. Describing animals bred or used to pull heavy loads, such as carts, plows, or wagons.
   - Simple: Used to describe an animal that pulls heavy loads like carts or plows.
   - _Belgian and Clydesdale breeds are classic draft horses._
   - _The farm kept a pair of draft oxen for hauling timber._

## Noun

19. A measured dose of a liquid such as medicine or alcohol. *(dated)*
   - Simple: A measured amount of medicine or drink taken at one time.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A person who has been conscripted into military service; a conscript or draftee.
- (noun) A format of collectible card games in which players build decks by selecting cards from a shared pool.
- (verb) To play a collectible card game by building a deck from cards chosen out of a shared pool.
- (verb) To pull or draw something out; to summon or call it forth.
- (noun) The pulling force, or tension, on a train's couplers and draft gear when the slack is stretched out.
- (noun) A small watercourse or tributary feeding a larger stream.
- (noun) A portion selected and taken from a larger group, such as soldiers detached for a particular duty.
- (noun) The slight taper on a casting pattern so it can be lifted out of the sand cleanly, leaving the mold intact.
- (noun) The work of hauling or dragging a load, as done by a horse, ox or vehicle.
- (noun) The hauling in of a fishing net.
- (noun) The quantity of fish or other things taken in by one pull of a net.
- (noun) A narrow valley or gully, often with a stream that runs at least part of the year.
- (verb) To pull fibers out from a mass so they can be spun into yarn.

## Origin

"Draft" is a phonetic spelling of "draught," from Middle English draught, draght ("that which is pulled or drawn; a design"), going back through Old English and Proto-Germanic *drahtuz ("a pulling, drawing"). It is essentially "draw" plus a "-t" ending, and is related to Dutch dracht and German Tracht.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/draft (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).