verb | noun
drawdraw1 /drɔ/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense drew /dru/, past participle drawn /drɔn/) 1
PICTURE [intransitive, transitive] to make a picture of something with a pencil or pen: Amy loves to draw.draw somebody something Could you draw me a diagram?draw something for somebody I’ll draw a map for you.THESAURUSsketch – to draw something quickly and without a lot of detail: Students were sketching a model in the center of the room.doodle – to draw shapes or patterns while you are thinking about something else: He was doodling in his notebook during the meeting.scribble – to draw or make marks quickly in a messy way. Used especially about children: One of the kids had scribbled on the walls with a crayon.trace – to copy a picture by putting a piece of thin paper over it and drawing the lines that you can see through the paper: Kara carefully traced one of the illustrations in the book.illustrate – to draw or paint pictures to be printed in a book: She has illustrated several well-known children’s books.2ATTENTION [transitive] if something draws your attention, your gaze, your eyes, etc., it makes you notice it: draw (somebody’s) attention The case drew international attention.draw (somebody’s) attention to something I’d like to draw your attention to the wonderful paintings on the ceiling.draw attention to yourself I didn’t want to draw attention to myself.draw somebody’s eye/gaze (=make someone pay attention to something) The sparkling necklace drew his gaze.3DECIDE something IS TRUE to decide that a particular fact or principle is true after thinking carefully about it: draw a conclusion/inference (from something) There’s only one conclusion that can be drawn from the evidence.4draw a distinction/comparison/analogy etc. to show why two things are different from or similar to each other: draw between The law draws a distinction between murder and manslaughter. People often try to draw parallels between computers and our brains (=show that they are similar).5draw the line (at something) to set a limit on what you are willing to do, or refuse to do something, especially because you disapprove of something: He wanted to succeed, but he drew the line at cheating. Is 50 too old to have a baby? Where do you draw the line?6GET A REACTION to get a particular kind of reaction from someone because of something you have said or done: draw praise/criticism Phillips drew criticism recently for canceling a national concert tour. The development plans have drawn fire from (=been criticized by) local residents. His remarks drew an angry response from Democrats.7ATTRACT [transitive] to attract someone and make him or her want to do something, go somewhere, or be with someone: Tourists are drawn by the beautiful beaches.draw somebody to somebody/something I was drawn to engineering from a young age. People were always drawn to him, even as a child. The new Children’s Museum is drawing huge crowds.8draw a line in the sand to set limits in a discussion or argument and warn people involved that if they go beyond those limits you will fight against them: It’s time to draw a line in the sand and stop any more cuts to education.9draw blood a)to take blood from someone, especially at a hospital: draw from The nurse drew some blood from Toni’s arm. b)to make someone bleed: The tiny insects swarm and bite, sometimes drawing blood. c)to have a very negative effect on something, especially in business or politics: The next social program cuts will draw blood.10MOVE [intransitive always + adv./prep., transitive] to move steadily in a particular direction, especially toward someone or something, or to move someone or something in a particular direction: The crowd drew back to allow the police to enter.draw (somebody) near/close Maria grew nervous as the men drew near. He put his arm around her and drew her closer.draw alongside/beside/toward etc. The crowd shouted as the boat drew away from the dock.► see thesaurus at pull111TAKE OUT [transitive always + adv./prep.] formal to remove something from its place or from a container: draw something out of/from something She reached into her purse and drew out a silver cigarette case.draw a gun/knife/sword etc. Suddenly he drew a knife and pointed it at me.12PULL CURTAINS/SHEETS ETC. [transitive] to move something such as curtains or sheets by pulling them: draw something back He drew back the sheet to look at his son.draw something around somebody/something She drew the shawl around her shoulders.draw the curtains/blinds (=close them by pulling them) He drew the blinds to block the sun.13PULL A VEHICLE [transitive] if an animal draws a vehicle, it pulls it along: The carriage was drawn by six white horses.14GET something YOU NEED [transitive] to get something, especially a feeling, that you need or that is important from someone or something: draw comfort/satisfaction/pleasure etc. from something I drew a lot of comfort from her kind words.draw ideas/inspiration from something Many artists have drawn inspiration from this landscape.15draw a blank spoken to not be able to think of or find an answer to a question: I just drew a blank on the last test question.16draw a check (on something) to write a check for taking money out of a bank: He drew a check on a Swiss bank account.17BE PAID [transitive] to receive an amount of money regularly from your employer or from the government: I’ve been drawing unemployment for six months.18LIQUID [transitive] to take water, beer, etc. from a well or container19BREATHE IN [transitive] literary to take air or smoke into your lungs SYN take: She drew a deep breath.20PLAYING CARD/TICKET [intransitive, transitive] to choose a card, ticket, etc. by chance: The winning lottery numbers will be drawn on Saturday evening.21draw (somebody) a picture to describe something in detail, in speech or in writing: It was impossible to draw a complete picture of the damage.22draw to a stop/end/close formal to gradually stop or finish23draw near/close to become closer in time: Summer vacation is drawing near.24draw straws to decide who will do something by having each person pick one straw, stick, pencil, etc. from a group of different-sized ones, with the loser being the person who picks the shortest one: The players drew straws to decide who went first.25draw the short straw used to say that someone has been unlucky because he or she was chosen by chance to do a job that no one wants to do: I’m only here because I drew the short straw.26draw lots to decide who will do something by taking pieces of paper, etc. out of a container: We drew lots to see who would go first.27draw a bath literary to fill a bathtub with water28draw a bow to bend a bow by pulling back the string in order to shoot an arrow[Origin: Old English dragan]draw somebody aside phrasal verb to bring someone away from a group of people so that you can talk to him or her privately: Jackie drew me aside to ask what was wrong.draw back from something phrasal verb to decide not to do something: The company drew back from its initial agreement of a 3% pay raise.draw somebody in (also draw somebody into something) phrasal verb to interest or involve someone in something, often when he or she was not interested before: Keith refused to be drawn into the argument. We hope our lower prices will draw in more first-time Internet users.draw something off phrasal verb to remove some liquid from a larger supply: Some of the river water will be drawn off into a network of canals.draw on something phrasal verb1 (also draw upon something) to use supplies, experiences, etc. for a particular purpose: She has 20 years of teaching experience to draw on.2to take money out of a particular account: The courts prohibit us from drawing on that line of credit.3draw on a cigarette/cigar etc. formal to breathe in smoke from a cigarette, etc.draw somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb1to make an event last longer than usual: The final questions drew the meeting out for another hour.2to make someone feel less nervous and more willing to talk: Mr. Monroe has helped draw Billy out of his shyness.3to remove money from a bank account SYN withdraw: She went to the bank and drew out all the money they had saved.draw up phrasal verb1LIST/CONTRACT ETC. draw something ↔ up to prepare a written document: The committee has drawn up a list of finalists.2VEHICLE to arrive somewhere and stop: A huge black limousine drew up outside the gates.3draw up a chair (also draw a chair up) to move a chair so that you are sitting close to someone or something4draw yourself up (to your full height) to stand up very straight because you are angry or determined about something5SOLDIERS draw somebody up to arrange people in a special order: The troops were drawn up in ranks for inspection. verb | noun
drawdraw2 ●○○ S3 noun [countable] 1a person, thing, or place that a lot of people are interested in seeing or going to: The Statue of Liberty is always a big draw for tourists.2a tie in a game or competition: The third game in the chess tournament ended in a draw.3the act of choosing someone or something by chance, especially in a game or lottery: The jackpot for Saturday’s draw is over $5 million. → see also the luck of the draw at luck1 (16), be quick on the draw at quick1 (12), a quick draw at quick1 (13)- lift
- lift-off
- ligament
- light
- light aircraft
- light bulb
- light-emitting diode
- lighten
- light energy
- lighter
- light-fingered
- light-footed
- light-headed
- light-headedness
- light-hearted
- light-heartedly
- light-heartedness
- light heavyweight
- lighthouse
- light industry
- lighting
- lightly
- light meter
- light microscope
- lightness