/ krɑːft; NAmE kræft/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] an activity involving a special skill at making things with your hands :
traditional crafts like basket-weaving
a craft fair / workshop
Craft, Design and Technology (= a subject in some British schools)
—see also arts and crafts
2.
[ sing. ] all the skills needed for a particular activity :
chefs who learned their craft in top hotels
the writer's craft
3.
[ U ] ( formal , disapproving ) skill in making people believe what you want them to believe :
He knew how to win by craft and diplomacy what he could not gain by force.
4.
[ C ] ( pl. craft ) a boat or ship :
Hundreds of small craft bobbed around the liner as it steamed into the harbour.
a landing / pleasure craft
5.
[ C ] ( pl. craft ) an aircraft or spacecraft
■ verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to make sth using special skills, especially with your hands
SYN fashion :
All the furniture is crafted from natural materials.
a carefully crafted speech
—see also handcrafted
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English cræft strength, skill , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kracht , German Kraft , and Swedish kraft strength. Sense 4, originally in the expression small craft small trading vessels , may be elliptical, referring to vessels requiring a small amount of “craft” or skill to handle, as opposed to large ocean-going ships.