English Reference
noun

drawing

n.
US /ˈdɹɔɪŋ/ UK /dɹˈɔːɹɪŋ/ draw·ing UK spelling drawings

  1. 01 A2 Elementary Art

    a picture or diagram made with a pen, pencil, or chalk rather than paint.

    a representation of an object or scene made with lines on a surface, typically using a dry medium.

    Simple

    The child gave her mother a colorful drawing of a house and a sun.

    In context

    The architect provided a detailed drawing of the proposed extension to help the clients visualize the final layout.

    Pitfall
    I made a drawing about a cat. I made a drawing of a cat.

    Use 'of' to describe the subject of the drawing.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Art

    the act or skill of making pictures with lines.

    the art, technique, or practice of producing images on a surface.

    Simple

    He is taking a drawing class to improve his artistic skills.

    In context

    Her mastery of drawing allowed her to capture complex anatomical details with just a few precise strokes of charcoal.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    an event where a winner is chosen by picking a name or number by chance.

    a random selection process, such as a lottery, where a winner is determined by pulling a ticket or name from a container.

    Simple

    The drawing for the prize will take place at the end of the party.

    In context

    The charity held a prize drawing to raise funds, ensuring that the selection process was transparent and witnessed by an independent auditor.


Etymology 1

From Middle English drauinge, drawinge, alteration of earlier drawende, drawand, from Old English dragende, from Proto-Germanic dragandz (“drawing”), present participle of Proto-Germanic draganą (“to draw; pull”), equivalent to draw + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English drauing, drawing, equivalent to draw + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin gem-pro *draganą
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated