draft
draft Lexical Profile
draft Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A preliminary version of a piece of writing, plan, or drawing created before the final edition.
"She asked her colleague to review the first draft of the research paper before submitting it."
North American A system or process of selecting individuals required for compulsory military service, or an annual procedure in which professional sports teams select new players.
"The standout college quarterback was selected first overall in the annual league draft."
A cool current of air flowing into an enclosed space or room.
"We placed a rolled towel beneath the front door to block the chilly winter draft."
A written order issued by one party, such as a bank, directing another party to pay a specified sum of money to a third person.
"The international tuition payment was completed using a certified bank draft."
• verb
To prepare a preliminary version of a document, speech, or legislative bill.
"The committee will meet tomorrow afternoon to draft the new environmental guidelines."
To select a person or group of people and bring them somewhere for a specific duty, sports team, or compulsory service.
"Several experienced engineers were drafted from other departments to help resolve the technical outage."
To ride or drive closely behind another competitor in cycling, running, or auto racing in order to reduce wind resistance.
"The cyclist conserved energy by drafting behind the lead pack for most of the stage."
• adjective
Denoting beer or other alcoholic beverages drawn directly from a pressurized cask or keg rather than served from a bottle or can.
"The neighborhood pub offers several local draft beers alongside its regular menu."
Denoting a strong domestic animal bred and used for pulling heavy loads such as plows, carts, or wagons.
"Heavy draft horses were essential for agricultural work before the invention of the tractor."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, 'draft' is the standard spelling for all senses of the word, whereas British English traditionally distinguishes between 'draft' (a preliminary text, financial order, or military selection) and 'draught' (a current of air, a drink drawn from a cask, or a pulling animal).
• Rhymes for draft
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'draught', a noun of action derived from the Old English verb 'dragan' ('to draw or pull'); the phonetic spelling 'draft' emerged in the 16th century to reflect the pronunciation shift of the final consonant cluster.