draw

  • verb (past drew; past part. drawn) 1 produce (a picture or diagram) by making lines and marks on paper. 2 produce (a line) on a surface. 3 pull or drag (a vehicle) so as to make it follow behind. 4 pull or move in a specified direction. 5 pull (curtains) shut or open. 6 arrive at a point in time: the campaign drew to a close. 7 extract from a container or receptacle: he drew his gun. 8 take in (a breath). 9 be the cause of (a specified response). attract to a place or an event. induce to reveal or do something. reach (a conclusion) by deduction or inference. (draw on) suck smoke from (a cigarette or pipe). finish (a contest or game) with an even score.

  • noun 1 an act of selecting names randomly, for prizes, sporting fixtures, etc. 2 a game or match that ends with the scores even. 3 a person or thing that is very attractive or interesting. 4 an act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette. 5 Cricket a game which is left incomplete for lack of time. Compare with TIE.

  — PHRASES draw someone’s fire attract hostile criticism away from a more important target. draw in (of successive days) become shorter because of the changing seasons. draw the line at set a limit of what one is willing to do or accept. draw on (of a period of time) pass by and approach its end. draw out 1 make (something) last longer. 2 persuade to be more talkative. draw up 1 come to a halt. 2 prepare (a plan or document) in detail.

  — ORIGIN Old English, related to DRAUGHT.

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