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draw

At the cartooning contest, you could draw out your pen and draw a narwhal, and the competition could still end in a draw. The meanings of draw include "to pull gently" and "to sketch" and "an even score".

The original meaning of draw comes from the Old English dragan, "drag." This meaning is still common today, like when you draw the curtains shut or when a horse draws a carriage through Central Park. The most common way to use the verb draw is to mean "produce an image using lines," which came from the idea of drawing a pen or pencil across paper. Occasionally, draw gets confused with drawer, a noun meaning "a compartment that slides out."

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: draw

1
 vn
cause to move by pulling
the act of drawing or hauling something
2
 vn
finish a game with an equal number of points, goals, etc.
the finish of a contest in which the score is tied and the winner is undecided
3
 vn
choose at random
anything (straws or pebbles etc.) taken or chosen at random
4
 n
a golf shot that curves to the left for a right-handed golfer
5
 n
(American football) the quarterback moves back as if to pass and then hands the ball to the fullback who is running toward the line of scrimmage
6
 n
a gully that is shallower than a ravine
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: draw
1

v cause to move by pulling

“draw a wagon”
Synonyms:
force, pull
pull
apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion
pull
cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense
Antonyms:
force, push
move with force, "He pushed the table into a corner"
push
press against forcefully without moving
show more antonyms...
Types:
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twitch
move or pull with a sudden motion
pull back
move to a rearward position; pull towards the back
adduct
draw a limb towards the body
abduct
pull away from the body
stretch
pull in opposite directions
pick, pluck, plunk
pull lightly but sharply with a plucking motion
tug
pull or strain hard at
drag
pull, as against a resistance
cart, drag, hale, haul
draw slowly or heavily
attract, draw in, pull, pull in
direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
jerk, yank
pull, or move with a sudden movement
winch
pull or lift up with or as if with a winch
pick off, pluck, pull off, tweak
pull or pull out sharply
pull back
stretch back a bowstring (on an archer's bow)
skitter
twitch the hook of a fishing line through or along the surface of water
twang
pluck (strings of an instrument)
tug
pull hard
pull along, schlep, shlep
pull along heavily, like a heavy load against a resistance
trail, train
drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground
bouse, bowse
haul with a tackle
arrest, catch, get
attract and fix
draw in, retract
pull inward or towards a center
tweeze
pluck with tweezers
bring
attract the attention of
Type of:
displace, move
cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense

v cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense

Synonyms:
pull
force, pull
cause to move by pulling
Type of:
displace, move
cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense

v move or pull so as to cover or uncover something

“draw the shades”
“draw the curtains”
Type of:
close, shut
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

v bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover

“draw a weapon”
Synonyms:
get out, pull, pull out, take out
pull
take away
draw out, extract, pull, pull out, pull up, take out
remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
take out
take liquid out of a container or well
Types:
unsheathe
draw from a sheath or scabbard
Type of:
remove, take, take away, withdraw
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract

v take liquid out of a container or well

“She drew water from the barrel”
Synonyms:
take out
get out, pull, pull out, take out
bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover
draw off, take out, withdraw
remove (a commodity) from (a supply source)
Types:
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milk
take milk from female mammals
pump
draw or pour with a pump
siphon, siphon off, syphon
convey, draw off, or empty by or as if by a siphon
sluice
draw through a sluice
tap
draw (liquor) from a tap
suck
draw something in by or as if by a vacuum
rack
draw off from the lees
deglycerolise, deglycerolize
remove from glycerol
strip
draw the last milk (of cows)
Type of:
remove, take, take away, withdraw
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract

v move or go steadily or gradually

“The ship drew near the shore”
Type of:
go, locomote, move, travel
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

v bring or lead someone to a certain action or condition

“She was drawn to despair”
“The President refused to be drawn into delivering an ultimatum”
“The session was drawn to a close”
Type of:
alter, change, modify
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

v direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

“The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers”
Synonyms:
attract, draw in, pull, pull in
draw in, retract
pull inward or towards a center
curl, curl up, draw in
shape one's body into a curl
Antonyms:
beat back, drive, force back, push back, repel, repulse
cause to move back by force or influence
drive
cause to move rapidly by striking or throwing with force
show more antonyms...
Types:
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tug
pull hard
arrest, catch, get
attract and fix
draw in, retract
pull inward or towards a center
bring
attract the attention of
introvert, invaginate
fold inwards
Type of:
force, pull
cause to move by pulling

v get or derive

“He drew great benefits from his membership in the association”
Synonyms:
reap
Type of:
derive, gain
obtain

v elicit responses, such as objections, criticism, applause, etc.

“The President's comments drew sharp criticism from the Republicans”
“The comedian drew a lot of laughter”
Synonyms
reap
get or derive
Type of:
arouse, elicit, enkindle, evoke, fire, kindle, provoke, raise
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

v cause to flow

“The nurse drew blood”
Type of:
remove, take, take away, withdraw
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract

v cause to localize at one point

“Draw blood and pus”
Types:
mature, suppurate
cause to ripen and discharge pus
Type of:
localise, localize
restrict something to a particular area

v represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface

“She drew an elephant”
“Draw me a horse”
Synonyms
delineate, describe, line, trace
make a mark or lines on a surface
Types:
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pencil
write, draw, or trace with a pencil
delineate, limn, outline
trace the shape of
rule
mark or draw with a ruler
chalk
write, draw, or trace with chalk
project
draw a projection of
crayon
write, draw, or trace with a crayon
check, checker, chequer
mark into squares or draw squares on; draw crossed lines on
charcoal
draw, trace, or represent with charcoal
doodle
make a doodle; draw aimlessly
diagram, plot
make a schematic or technical drawing of that shows interactions among variables or how something is constructed
cartoon
draw cartoons of
fill in, shade
represent the effect of shade or shadow on
chalk out, sketch
make a sketch of
lipstick
form by tracing with lipstick
contour
form the contours of
crosshatch
shade with multiple crossing lines
graph
plot upon a graph
Type of:
interpret, represent
create an image or likeness of

v make a mark or lines on a surface

“draw a line”
Synonyms:
delineate, describe, line, trace
Types:
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construct
draw with suitable instruments and under specified conditions
inscribe
draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible
circumscribe
draw a line around
circumscribe
to draw a geometric figure around another figure so that the two are in contact but do not intersect
write
mark or trace on a surface
dot
make a dot or dots
stenograph
write in shorthand
calligraph
write beautifully and ornamentally
cross
trace a line through or across
superscribe
write on the outside or upper part of
superscribe
write on the top or outside
capitalise, capitalize
write in capital letters
letter
mark letters on or mark with letters
print
write as if with print; not cursive
scrawl, scribble
write carelessly
copy
copy down as is
impress, print
reproduce by printing
Type of:
mark
make or leave a mark on

v engage in drawing

“He spent the day drawing in the garden”
Synonyms
delineate, describe, line, trace
make a mark or lines on a surface
Type of:
create
pursue a creative activity; be engaged in a creative activity

v make, formulate, or derive in the mind

“I draw a line here”
“draw a conclusion”
“draw parallels”
Synonyms:
make
make
calculate as being
Type of:
create by mental act, create mentally
create mentally and abstractly rather than with one's hands

v give a description of

“He drew an elaborate plan of attack”
Synonyms:
depict, describe
Types:
show 6 types...
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represent
describe or present, usually with respect to a particular quality
delineate
describe in vivid detail
adumbrate, outline, sketch
describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of
symbolise, symbolize
represent or identify by using a symbol; use symbols
actualise, actualize
represent or describe realistically
block out
indicate roughly
Type of:
exposit, expound, set forth
state

v write a legal document or paper

“The deed was drawn in the lawyer's office”
Type of:
compose, indite, pen, write
produce a literary work

v take in, also metaphorically

“She drew strength from the minister's words”
Synonyms:
absorb, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck, suck up, take in, take up
Types:
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mop, mop up, wipe up
to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop
blot
dry (ink) with blotting paper
sponge up
absorb as if with a sponge
swab, swob
wash with a swab or a mop
sponge
soak up with a sponge

v suck in or take (air)

“draw a deep breath”
“draw on a cigarette”
Synonyms:
drag, puff
Type of:
breathe in, inhale, inspire
draw in (air)

v select or take in from a given group or region

“The participants in the experiment were drawn from a representative population”
Type of:
choose, pick out, select, take
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

v remove (a commodity) from (a supply source)

“She drew $2,000 from the account”
“The doctors drew medical supplies from the hospital's emergency bank”
Synonyms:
draw off, take out, withdraw
take out
take liquid out of a container or well
Antonyms:
bank, deposit
put into a bank account
Types:
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check out, cheque
withdraw money by writing a check
dip
take a small amount from
divert, hive off
withdraw (money) and move into a different location, often secretly and with dishonest intentions
overdraw
draw more money from than is available
tap
draw from or dip into to get something
disinvest, divest
reduce or dispose of; cease to hold (an investment)
Type of:
remove, take, take away, withdraw
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract

v allow a draft

“This chimney draws very well”
Synonyms
take out
take liquid out of a container or well
Type of:
be
have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)

v require a specified depth for floating

“This boat draws 70 inches”
Type of:
ask, call for, demand, involve, necessitate, need, postulate, require, take
require as useful, just, or proper

v pull (a person) apart with four horses tied to his extremities, so as to execute him

“in the old days, people were drawn and quartered for certain crimes”
Synonyms:
draw and quarter, quarter
Type of:
kill
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

v thread on or as if on a string

“the child drew glass beads on a string”
Synonyms:
string, thread
guide, pass, run
pass over, across, or through
Types:
bead
string together like beads
wire
string on a wire
Type of:
arrange, set up
put into a proper or systematic order

v pass over, across, or through

“He drew her hair through his fingers”
Synonyms:
guide, pass, run
string, thread
thread on or as if on a string
lead, run
cause something to pass or lead somewhere
Types:
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rub
move over something with pressure
thread
pass through or into
thread
pass a thread through
brush
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
pumice
rub with pumice, in order to clean or to smoothen
gauge
rub to a uniform size
puree, strain
rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender
rosin
rub rosin onto
sponge down, sponge off
clean with a sponge, by rubbing
worry
touch or rub constantly
scour, scrub
clean with hard rubbing
abrade, scour
rub hard or scrub
blur, smear, smudge, smutch
make a smudge on; soil by smudging
grate, scrape
scratch repeatedly
pass over, wipe
rub with a circular motion
grate
reduce to small shreds or pulverize by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surface

v contract

“The material drew after it was washed in hot water”
Synonyms
cockle, crumple, knit, pucker, rumple
to gather something into small wrinkles or folds
Type of:
change form, change shape, deform
assume a different shape or form

v reduce the diameter of (a wire or metal rod) by pulling it through a die

“draw wire”
Type of:
thin
make thin or thinner

v flatten, stretch, or mold metal or glass, by rolling or by pulling it through a die or by stretching

“draw steel”
Type of:
form, shape
give shape or form to

v stretch back a bowstring (on an archer's bow)

“The archers were drawing their bows”
Synonyms:
pull back
pull back
move to a rearward position; pull towards the back
Type of:
stretch
pull in opposite directions

v earn or achieve a base by being walked by the pitcher

“He drew a base on balls”
Synonyms:
get
Type of:
effect, effectuate, set up
produce

v steep; pass through a strainer

“draw pulp from the fruit”
Type of:
infuse, steep
let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse

v remove the entrails of

“draw a chicken”
Synonyms:
disembowel, eviscerate
Type of:
remove, take, take away, withdraw
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract

n the act of drawing or hauling something

Synonyms:
haul, haulage
Types:
tow, towage
the act of hauling something (as a vehicle) by means of a hitch or rope
Type of:
pull, pulling
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you

n an entertainer who attracts large audiences

“he was the biggest drawing card they had”
Synonyms:
attracter, attraction, attractor, drawing card
Type of:
entertainer
a person who tries to please or amuse
2

v finish a game with an equal number of points, goals, etc.

“The teams drew a tie”
Synonyms:
tie
Type of:
equal, equalise, equalize, equate, match
make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching

n the finish of a contest in which the score is tied and the winner is undecided

“the game ended in a draw”
Synonyms:
standoff, tie
Types:
dead heat
a tie in a race
stalemate
drawing position in chess: any of a player's possible moves would place his king in check
Type of:
finish
designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race)
3

v choose at random

“draw a card”
Synonyms:
cast
Type of:
go, move
have a turn; make one's move in a game

n anything (straws or pebbles etc.) taken or chosen at random

“the luck of the draw”
“they drew lots for it”
Synonyms:
lot
Type of:
object, physical object
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

n a playing card or cards dealt or taken from the pack

“he got a pair of kings in the draw”
Type of:
playing card
one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games

n poker in which a player can discard cards and receive substitutes from the dealer

“he played only draw and stud”
Synonyms:
draw poker
Type of:
poker, poker game
any of various card games in which players bet that they hold the highest-ranking hand
4

n a golf shot that curves to the left for a right-handed golfer

Synonyms:
hook, hooking
Type of:
golf shot, golf stroke, swing
the act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it
5

n (American football) the quarterback moves back as if to pass and then hands the ball to the fullback who is running toward the line of scrimmage

Synonyms:
draw play
Type of:
run, running, running game, running play
(American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team
6

n a gully that is shallower than a ravine

Type of:
gully
deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
Launch
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