craft
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a skill or activity that involves making things with your hands, like pottery or woodwork.
n.skill or dexterity in a particular manual occupation or artistic practice.
Simple“She spent years perfecting her craft as a professional furniture maker.”
In context“The exhibition showcases the traditional craft of glassblowing, highlighting techniques that have remained unchanged for centuries.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a boat, ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.
n.a vehicle designed for navigation through water, air, or space; often used as a collective noun for multiple vessels.
Simple“The small fishing craft struggled against the heavy waves near the coast.”
In context“The naval base houses various landing craft and support vessels used for coastal defence operations.”
UsageThe plural form can be 'craft' or 'crafts', but 'craft' is more common when referring to multiple vessels of the same type.
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.the use of clever but often dishonest methods to get what you want.
n.skill in deception or trickery; guile.
Simple“He used all his craft to persuade the guards to let him pass.”
In context“The politician was known for his political craft, often outmanoeuvring his rivals through subtle manipulation and strategic alliances.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make something with great skill and attention to detail.
v.to construct or develop something with meticulous care and professional skill.
Simple“The author spent months crafting the perfect ending to her novel.”
In context“Each piece of jewellery is carefully crafted by hand, ensuring that no two items are exactly alike.”
“When carefully managed, places such as Baringo and M'Goun can support local guides, accommodation, museums, transport, crafts and food businesses.”
“By the time the craft and crew were ready for action, however, the British had moved their ships to New York City .”
From Middle English craft (“strength, skill”), from Old English cræft (“strength, skill”), from Proto-West Germanic kraftu, from Proto-Germanic kraftuz (“strength, power”); further origin obscure. Cognate with German Kraft (“strength, power, force, energy, employee”) and Danish kraft (“strength, power, force”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.