1 draw
/ˈdrɑː/
verb
draws;
drew
/ˈdruː/ ;
drawn
/ˈdrɑːn/ ;
drawing
1 draw
/ˈdrɑː/
verb
draws;
drew
/ˈdruː/ ;
drawn
/ˈdrɑːn/ ;
drawing
Britannica Dictionary definition of DRAW
1
:
to make (a picture, image, etc.) by making lines on a surface especially with a pencil, pen, marker, chalk, etc., but not usually with paint
[+ object]
-
He drew me a picture of the bike. = He drew a picture of the bike for me.
-
The computer can draw the graph for you.
-
Students drew maps of the states and labeled them.
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[no object]
-
You draw very well.
-
She sat down and began to draw.
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— compare paint
2
[+ object]
:
to cause (attention) to be given to someone or something
-
The case has drawn attention to the fact that many athletes never graduate.
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I would like to draw your attention to the third line.
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He didn't want to draw attention to himself. [=he did not want to cause people to notice him]
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3
[+ object]
a
:
to cause (someone or something) to come
:
to attract (someone or something)
-
The band always draws a large crowd.
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She felt drawn [=attracted] to the young man.
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The college draws students from around the world.
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The animals were drawn to the campsite by the smell of food.
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We hope the display in the window will draw customers in from the street.
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The lure of city life has drawn away many of the town's young people.
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My eye was drawn to the painting. [=some characteristic of the painting made me want to look at it]
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b
:
to cause (someone) to become involved or interested in something or someone
— + in, into, or to
-
What first drew you to teaching?
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A good writer knows how to draw readers in. [=how to make readers interested; how to make people want to read something]
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— often used as (be/get) drawn
-
She was drawn in by his friendly manner. [=she wanted to know and talk to him because he was friendly]
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She got drawn into the conversation.
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4
[+ object]
:
to get or receive (something)
-
a television show that has drawn consistently high ratings
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The player drew a foul.
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:
to get (a particular response or reaction)
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His speech drew cheers from the crowd.
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The movie has drawn much criticism/praise from critics.
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He is a talented high school athlete who has drawn the interest of several major colleges.
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The principal's remarks have drawn fire [=attracted angry criticism] from both parents and teachers.
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5
a
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[+ object]
:
to move in a specified direction
[no object]
-
She drew away from the spider.
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He opened the door and drew back in horror/shock/fear.
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The car drew (up) alongside us.
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The train drew [=pulled] into the station.
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— sometimes used figuratively
-
He drew away [=(more commonly) withdrew] from his family.
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[+ object]
-
She drew her eyebrows together in a frown of concentration.
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b
[+ object]
:
to move (something) by pulling
-
a carriage drawn by horses = a horse-drawn carriage
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Draw the curtains/blinds/shades. [=open or close the curtains/blinds/shades]
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a special fabric that draws moisture away from the skin
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She drew the blanket over her head.
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Draw up a chair and join us. [=bring a chair to where we are and sit down with us]
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She sat down in the chair and drew up her knees/legs. [=she bent her legs and moved her knees toward her chest]
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— sometimes used figuratively
-
The tragedy drew us closer together. [=made us emotionally closer]
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6
[no object]
:
to move gradually or steadily in time or space
-
The lion drew closer to its prey.
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The sun is setting and the day is drawing to a close. [=ending]
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Spring is drawing near/nigh. [=approaching]
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The car drew to a halt/stop. [=the car slowed down and stopped]
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7
[+ object]
a
:
to form (something, such as an idea or conclusion) after thinking carefully about information you have
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You can draw your own conclusions.
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— often + from
-
a writer who draws ideas from newspaper stories
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We can draw lessons from past mistakes. [=we can learn from past mistakes]
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b
:
to describe how two or more things are similar or different
:
to make (a comparison, distinction, etc.) between two or more things
-
Many people have been drawing comparisons between the two movies. [=have been saying that the movies are similar]
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She drew important distinctions between the two methods. [=described important ways that the two methods are different]
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8
a
[+ object]
:
to take (something) out of a container, pocket, etc.
-
They were arguing, and then one of them drew [=pulled] a gun.
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One of the thieves drew a knife on her. [=one of the thieves took a knife out of a pocket, container, etc., and pointed it at her]
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She drew water from the well.
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— see also at daggers drawn at dagger
b
[+ object]
:
to cause (something) to come out of a source
-
He drew [=ran] water for a bath.
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c
[+ object]
:
to get (something) from a source
-
The car also draws power from a battery.
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She draws strength/inspiration from her loving family.
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d
:
to take (a card) from a group of cards
[+ object]
-
Draw four cards.
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[no object]
-
You haven't drawn yet.
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9
a
[+ object]
:
to choose (a thing) from a group without knowing which one you are choosing
-
She drew the winning number/ticket.
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We drew names from a hat to decide who would go on the trip.
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(Brit) The U.S. team have been drawn against [=chosen to play against] Greece in the first round.
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— see also draw lots at lot
b
[no object]
:
to decide something by choosing something from a group
-
We'll draw to see who will drive.
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— see also draw straws (below)
10
[+ object]
:
to make (something, such as a legal document) in a proper or legal form
-
We hired a lawyer to draw a will.
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— often + up
-
They drew up a contract/proposal/plan/list.
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11
a
[+ object]
:
to take (something, such as air or smoke) into your lungs by breathing
-
She drew a deep breath before responding.
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— often + in
-
He drew the fresh air in. = He drew in the fresh air.
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b
[no object]
:
to let air flow through
-
Make sure the chimney is drawing properly.
-
The pipe draws well.
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12
[+ object]
a
:
to take (money) from a bank account
:
withdraw
— usually + from or out
-
He drew $100 from the bank.
-
She drew out the money.
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b
:
to receive (money) regularly from an employer, government, bank, etc.
-
He draws a salary of about $100,000.
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He draws unemployment benefits.
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She has started to draw her pension.
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c
:
to write (a check) and have money taken from a bank account
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You are now authorized to draw checks from the corporate account.
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13
British
:
to finish a game, contest, etc., without having a winner
:
tie
[+ object]
-
We drew [=(US) tied] the game 3–3.
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[no object]
-
The teams drew [=(US) tied] 3–3. [=each team scored three points]
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— often + against
-
The teams have drawn against each other.
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14
[+ object]
archery
:
to bend (a bow) by pulling back the string
-
He drew his bow and aimed at the target.
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15
[+ object]
British
:
to cause (someone) to say more about something especially by questioning
— often used as (be) drawn
— usually + on
-
She refused to be drawn on whether the company is considering a merger.
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16
[+ object]
technical, of a boat
:
to need (a particular depth of water) in order to float
-
The ship draws 45 feet of water.
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draw a bead on
— see bead
draw a blank
— see 2blank
draw a/the line
— see 1line
draw blood
— see blood
draw in your horns
— see 1horn
draw off
[phrasal verb]
draw off (something)
or
draw (something) off
:
to take or remove (something) from a source or supply
-
They illegally drew off thousands of dollars that had been donated to the charity.
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draw on/upon
[phrasal verb]
1
draw on
literary
:
to come closer in time
-
It became colder as night drew on. [=approached]
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2
draw on/upon (something)
a
:
to use (something) as a source or supply
-
The family is drawing on/upon the community for support.
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b
:
to use (information, experience, knowledge, etc.) to make something
-
Her new book draws on her personal experience as a firefighter.
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The report draws upon several recent studies.
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3
draw on (something)
:
to breathe in smoke from (a cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc.)
-
He drew on his cigarette.
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draw out
[phrasal verb]
1
draw (something) out
or
draw out (something)
:
to cause something to leave a source or supply
-
Trees draw water out of the soil.
-
Salt will draw out moisture from the vegetables.
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2
draw (something) out
or
draw out (something)
:
to cause (something) to last longer than the usual or expected amount of time
-
Questions drew the meeting out for another hour.
-
The movie's love scene was drawn out.
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— see also drawn-out, long-drawn-out
3
draw (someone) out
or
draw out (someone)
:
to cause (someone) to talk freely
-
She tried to draw the frightened child out by asking him questions about his toys.
-
The reporter had an ability to draw out people.
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draw straws
◊ If you draw straws, you choose a stick from a group of sticks that are different sizes but that are being held in such a way that they look like they are all the same size. Usually, whoever chooses the shortest stick or gets/draws the short straw will have to do a particular thing. Let's draw straws to see who will drive. He drew the short straw so he has to drive. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
draw the blinds/curtain/shades on
:
to end (something that has been continuing for a long time)
-
Let's draw the curtain on this investigation.
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— see also 1draw 5b (above)
draw up
[phrasal verb]
1
of a vehicle
:
to approach and stop at a place
-
A car drew up [=pulled up] in front of the house.
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2
draw (yourself) up
:
to stand as straight and tall as you can
-
He drew himself up to (his) full height.
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— see also 1draw 10 (above)
2 draw
/ˈdrɑ/
noun
plural
draws
2 draw
/ˈdrɑ/
noun
plural
draws
Britannica Dictionary definition of DRAW
[count]
1
:
someone or something that causes a lot of people to come to a place
:
attraction
-
Their band is the main draw at the festival.
-
The festival is always a big draw.
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2
:
the final result of a game, contest, etc., that does not have a winner
:
tie
-
The game ended in a draw. = The game was a draw. [=both teams/players had the same score]
-
They played to a 3–3 draw. [=each team/player had 3 points when the game ended]
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3
chiefly British
:
drawing
-
Who won the (prize) draw?
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— often + for
-
The draw for the raffle will take place in one hour.
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4
:
an act of breathing in smoke from a cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc.
:
drag
— often + on or from
-
He took a long draw on/from his cigarette.
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be quick on the draw
:
to be quick about removing a gun from where it is kept
:
to quickly draw a gun and be ready to shoot it
— often used figuratively
-
When the huge crowd suddenly became unruly, security was quick on the draw. [=security reacted very quickly]
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Critics may have been a little too quick on the draw.
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the luck of the draw
— see 1luck
