drawer
- 01 A2 Elementary
a box-shaped container that slides in and out of a desk or cupboard.
a sliding, open-topped compartment within a piece of furniture, used for storage.
Simple“He kept his passport in the top drawer of the wooden desk.”
In context“The antique dresser featured a hidden drawer behind the central panel, designed to secure valuable documents from casual observers.”
PitfallI put the socks in the drawers. I put the socks in the drawer.Use the singular 'drawer' for one compartment. The plural 'drawers' usually refers to multiple compartments or, informally, to underwear.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person who draws pictures or sketches.
an agent noun for one who produces drawings, sketches, or diagrams.
Simple“She is a talented drawer who can capture a person's face in minutes.”
In context“While he was a master of oil painting, he considered himself first and foremost a drawer, obsessed with the precision of graphite on paper.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the person who writes a cheque or a bank document.
the party that issues or signs a bill of exchange, cheque, or draft, instructing a second party to pay a sum.
Simple“The bank refused to process the cheque because the drawer had not signed it.”
In context“In commercial law, the drawer remains liable for the amount of the draft if the drawee fails to honour the payment upon presentation.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
a person who pours drinks from a barrel or tap in a pub.
a person employed to draw liquors from a cask or tap; a tapster.
Simple“The drawer hurried to fill the empty mugs as the tavern grew crowded.”
In context“In the historical novel, the drawer was depicted as a weary youth constantly running between the cellar barrels and the thirsty patrons upstairs.”
Synonymstapsterbarman - 05 C2 Proficiency
a person who pushed heavy tubs of coal in old mines.
a worker responsible for pushing or pulling tubs of coal or ore along underground tracks.
Simple“Life was difficult for a drawer working in the narrow tunnels of the coal mine.”
In context“Nineteenth-century mining records detail the gruelling labour of the drawer, who moved heavy loads through passages too low for ponies.”
Synonymswagonerhauler
From draw (“to move by pulling”) + -er; compare French tiroir. Attested from the 16th century.
From Middle English drawer, from draw + -er (agent noun suffix). Attested from the 14th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.