draw

I. verb (drew; drawn; drawing) Etymology: Middle English drawen, dragen, from Old English dragan; akin to Old Norse draga to draw, drag Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to cause to move continuously toward or after a force applied in advance ; pull <

draw your chair up by the fire

>: as a. to move (as a covering) over or to one side <

draw the drapes

> b. to pull up or out of a receptacle or place where seated or carried <

draw water from the well

> <

drew a gun

>; also to cause to come out of a container or source <

draw water for a bath

> <

the nurse drew a blood sample

> <

the wound drew blood

> 2. to cause to go in a certain direction (as by leading) <

drew him aside

> 3. a. to bring by inducement or allure ; attract <

honey draws flies

> b. to bring in or gather from a specified group or area <

a college that draws its students from many states

> c. bring on, provoke <

drew enemy fire

> d. to bring out by way of response ; elicit <

drew cheers from the audience

> e. to receive in the course of play <

the batter drew a walk

> <

draw a foul

> 4. inhale <

drew a deep breath

> 5. a. to extract the essence from <

draw tea

> b. eviscerate <

plucking and drawing a goose before cooking

> c. to derive to one's benefit <

drew inspiration from the old masters

> 6. to require (a specified depth) to float in <

a ship that draws 12 feet of water

> 7. a. accumulate, gain <

drawing interest

> b. to take (money) from a place of deposit c. to use in making a cash demand <

drawing a check against his account

> d. to receive regularly or in due course <

draw a salary

> 8. a. to take (cards) from a stack or from the dealer b. to receive or take at random <

drew a winning number

> 9. to bend (a bow) by pulling back the string 10. to cause to shrink, contract, or tighten 11. a. to strike (a ball) so as to impart a backward spin b. to strike (a golf ball) so that a slight to moderate hook results 12. to leave (a contest) undecided ; tie 13. a. (1) to produce a likeness or representation of by making lines on a surface <

draw a picture

> <

draw a graph with chalk

> (2) to give a portrayal of ; delineate <

a writer who draws characters well

> b. to write out in due form <

draw a will

> c. to design or describe in detail ; formulate <

draw comparisons

> 14. to infer from evidence or premises <

draw a conclusion

> 15. to spread or elongate (metal) by hammering or by pulling through dies; also to shape (as plastic) by stretching or by pulling through dies intransitive verb 1. to come or go steadily or gradually <

night draws near

> 2. a. to move something by pulling <

drawing at the well

> b. to exert an attractive force <

the play is drawing well

> 3. a. to pull back a bowstring b. to bring out a weapon <

drew, aimed, and fired

> 4. a. to produce a draft <

the chimney draws well

> <

draw on a cigar

> b. to swell out in a wind <

all sails drawing

> 5. a. to wrinkle or tighten up ; shrink b. to change shape by pulling or stretching 6. to cause blood or pus to localize at one point 7. to create a likeness or a picture in outlines ; sketch 8. to come out even in a contest 9. a. to make a written demand for payment of money on deposit b. to obtain resources (as of information) <

drawing from a common fund of knowledge

> • drawable adjective II. noun Date: 1663 1. the act or process of drawing: as a. a sucking pull on something held with the lips b. a removal of a handgun from its holster <

quick on the draw

> c. backward spin given to a ball by striking it below center — compare follow 2. something that is drawn: as a. a card drawn to replace a discard in poker b. a lot or chance drawn at random c. the movable part of a drawbridge 3. a contest left undecided or deadlocked ; tie 4. one that draws attention or patronage ; attraction 5. a. the distance from the string to the back of a drawn bow b. the force required to draw a bow fully 6. a gully shallower than a ravine 7. the deal in draw poker to improve the players' hands after discarding 8. a football play that simulates a pass play so a runner can go straight up the middle past the pass rushers 9. a slight to moderate and usually intentional hook in golf