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draw

v. · n.
US //ˈdɹɔ// UK //dɹˈɔː// draw
Irregular verb past drew past participle drawn
  1. 1 to make a picture (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to make a picture using a pen, pencil, or crayon.

    to produce a representation or diagram by making lines on a surface.

    Example

    She sat in the park and drew a picture of the old bridge.

    Example

    The architect drew a series of detailed sketches to illustrate how the light would interact with the building's facade.
    Pitfall
    He drew a picture about his dog.
    He drew a picture of his dog.

    Use the preposition 'of' to indicate the subject of a drawing.

  2. 2 to pull (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to pull something towards you or in a certain direction.

    to exert force on an object so as to move it towards oneself or along a path.

    Example

    He drew the curtains to block out the bright morning sun.

    Example

    The knight drew his sword from its scabbard as the enemy approached the castle gates.
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  1. 3 to attract (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to attract interest, attention, or a crowd of people.

    to elicit a specific response or to attract interest and participation.

    Example

    The free concert drew a huge crowd to the city centre.

    Example

    The controversial policy drew sharp criticism from both the public and the media.
  2. 4 to choose or extract (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to take something out, like money from a bank or a name from a hat.

    to extract, withdraw, or select something from a source or container.

    Example

    They will draw the winning ticket for the prize tomorrow.

    Example

    She needed to draw some cash from her savings account to pay for the repairs.
  3. 5 to reach a conclusion (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    to arrive at an idea or conclusion after thinking about the facts.

    to deduce or infer a conclusion from available evidence or information.

    Example

    What conclusion did you draw after reading the report?

    Example

    It is difficult to draw any firm conclusions from such a limited set of data.

    Usage

    Commonly collocates with 'conclusion', 'parallel', or 'comparison'.
  4. 6 a tie in a game (n.)
    A2 Elementary Sport

    a game or race that ends with both sides having the same score.

    a competitive result in which participants finish with an identical score or standing.

    Example

    The football match ended in a two-two draw.

    Example

    After ninety minutes of intense play, the game resulted in a scoreless draw, leaving both teams frustrated.

    Teacher's tip

    In American English, 'tie' is more common than 'draw' for most sports, though 'draw' is used in soccer.
  5. 7 an attraction (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    something or someone that many people want to see.

    a person, place, or event that acts as a powerful attraction for the public.

    Example

    The new museum is a big draw for tourists visiting the city.

    Example

    The lead actor's performance was the main draw of the production, consistently selling out the theatre.
  6. 8 a lottery or selection (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of choosing a winner or a name by chance.

    a random selection process, such as for a lottery or a tournament schedule.

    Example

    The draw for the World Cup groups takes place this evening.

    Example

    The luck of the draw determined that the two strongest teams would face each other in the first round.
  7. 9 cannabis (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang British English

    a slang word for the drug cannabis.

    a slang term referring to cannabis or a portion of the drug.

    Example

    He was caught carrying a small bag of draw.

    Example

    The local police were focusing on the street-level distribution of draw and other substances.

    Usage

    Uncountable when referring to the drug in general; countable when referring to a specific bag.

    Teacher's tip

    This is highly informal and specific to certain dialects; learners should be aware of it but avoid using it in formal contexts.
Origin

The verb is derived from Middle English drauen, drawen, draȝen, dragen (“to drag, pull; to draw (out); to attract; to entice, lure; to lead; to make a drawing; to move, travel; etc.”), from Old English dragan (“to drag, draw”), from Proto-West Germanic dragan (“to carry; to haul”), from Proto-Germanic draganą (“to carry; to pull, draw”); further etymology uncertain, often said to be from Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- (“to pull, draw”), but possibly from a non-Indo-European substrate root which is also the source of Latin trahō (“to pull, draw; etc.”). Doublet of drag and draught. The noun is derived from Middle English drau, draue (“action of shooting with a bow”), from drauen, drawen (verb). cognates * Albanian dredh (“to turn, spin”) * Danish drage * Dutch dragen * German tragen (“to carry”) * Old Armenian դառնամ (daṙnam, “to turn”) * Sanskrit ध्रजस् (dhrájas, “gliding course or motion”) * West Frisian drage

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