n.
Pronunciation: ' dro ̇
Function: verb
Inflected Form: drew \ ' drü \ ; drawn \ ' dro ̇ n, ' drän \ ; draw · ing
Etymology: Middle English drawen, dragen, from Old English dragan; akin to Old Norse draga to draw, drag
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to cause to move continuously toward or after a force applied in advance : PULL < draw your chair up by the fire>: as a : to move (as a covering) over or to one side < draw the drapes> b : to pull up or out of a receptacle or place where seated or carried < draw water from the well> < drew a gun> also : to cause to come out of a container or source < draw water for a bath> <the nurse drew a blood sample> <the wound drew blood>
2 : to cause to go in a certain direction (as by leading) < drew him aside>
3 a : to bring by inducement or allure : ATTRACT <honey draw s flies> b : to bring in or gather from a specified group or area <a college that draw s its students from many states> c : BRING ON , PROVOKE < drew enemy fire> d : to bring out by way of response : ELICIT < drew cheers from the audience> e : to receive in the course of play <the batter drew a walk> < draw a foul>
4 : INHALE < drew a deep breath>
5 a : to extract the essence from < draw tea> b : EVISCERATE <plucking and draw ing a goose before cooking> c : to derive to one's benefit < drew inspiration from the old masters>
6 : to require (a specified depth) to float in <a ship that draw s 12 feet of water>
7 a : ACCUMULATE , GAIN < draw ing interest> b : to take (money) from a place of deposit c : to use in making a cash demand < draw ing a check against his account> d : to receive regularly or in due course < draw a salary>
8 a : to take (cards) from a stack or from the dealer b : to receive or take at random < drew a winning number>
9 : to bend (a bow) by pulling back the string
10 : to cause to shrink, contract, or tighten
11 a : to strike (a ball) so as to impart a backward spin b : to strike (a golf ball) so that a slight to moderate hook results
12 : to leave (a contest) undecided : TIE
13 a (1) : to produce a likeness or representation of by making lines on a surface < draw a picture> < draw a graph with chalk> (2) : to give a portrayal of : DELINEATE <a writer who draw s characters well> b : to write out in due form < draw a will> c : to design or describe in detail : FORMULATE < draw comparisons>
14 : to infer from evidence or premises < draw a conclusion>
15 : to spread or elongate (metal) by hammering or by pulling through dies also : to shape (as plastic) by stretching or by pulling through dies
intransitive verb
1 : to come or go steadily or gradually <night draw s near>
2 a : to move something by pulling < draw ing at the well> b : to exert an attractive force <the play is draw ing well>
3 a : to pull back a bowstring b : to bring out a weapon < drew, aimed, and fired>
4 a : to produce a draft <the chimney draw s well> < draw on a cigar> b : to swell out in a wind <all sails draw ing >
5 a : to wrinkle or tighten up : SHRINK b : to change shape by pulling or stretching
6 : to cause blood or pus to localize at one point
7 : to create a likeness or a picture in outlines : SKETCH
8 : to come out even in a contest
9 a : to make a written demand for payment of money on deposit b : to obtain resources (as of information) < draw ing from a common fund of knowledge>
– draw · able \ - ə -b ə l \ adjective
– draw a bead on : to take aim at
– draw a blank : to fail to gain a desired object (as information sought) also : to be unable to think of something
– draw on or draw upon : to use as a source of supply < drawing on the whole community for support>
– draw straws : to decide or assign something by lottery in which straws of unequal length are used
– draw the line or draw a line
1 : to fix an arbitrary boundary between things that tend to intermingle
2 : to fix a boundary excluding what one will not tolerate or engage in