draft

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /drɑːft/, SAMPA: /drA:ft/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /dræft/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: draught

Noun

Singular draft

Plural drafts

1. (countable) A draft is a piece of writing which has been or may be edited.

   In the first draft of the story the characters names are all different.

   Check final drafts for misspellings, using a dictionary or computer spelling checker.

2. (countable) A draft is when the military or a sport team chooses its members.

   Many Americans moved to Canada to avoid the draft during the war.

   The Tigers' first choice in yesterday's draft was pitcher George Berlin.

3. (uncountable) (US) Depth of water needed to float a ship; depth below the water line to the bottom of a vessel's hull. (UK spelling: draught)

   The ship had a draft of 6 feet.

4. (uncountable) (US) Draft is beer that is served from a large container called a keg. (UK spelling: draught)
5. (countable) (US) A draft is a wind that blows inside a building. (UK spelling: draught)

   Close the window! That cold draft is making me sneeze.

Synonyms

• version
• conscription

Verb

Plain form draft

Third-person singular drafts

Past tense drafted

Past participle drafted

Present participle drafting

1. (transitive) If you draft a letter, memo, agreement, etc., you write one that has been or may be edited.

   You should have the contract drafted by a lawyer.

2. (transitive) If a state drafts someone, it chooses them to be in the military.

   I was drafted when I was 20 and spent two years fighting in France.

3. (transitive) If a team drafts someone, it chooses them to play on the team.

Synonyms

• conscript