Draft vs. Working

The action or an act (especially of a beast of burden or vehicle) of pulling something along or back.

Example: ‘using oxen for draft’; ‘shot forth an arrow with a mighty draft’;

The act of drawing in a net for fish.

That which is drawn in; a catch, a haul.

Example: ‘he cast his net, which brought him a very great draft’;

An early version of a written work (such as a book or e-mail) or drawing; a preliminary sketch or outline.

Example: ‘I have to revise the first draft of my term paper.’; ‘His first drafts were better than most authors' final products.’;

(nautical) Depth of water needed to float a ship; depth below the water line to the bottom of a vessel's hull; depth of water drawn by a vessel.

A current of air, usually coming into a room or vehicle.

Draw through a flue of gasses (smoke) resulting from a combustion process.

An amount of liquid (such as water, alcohol, or medicine) that is drunk in one swallow.

Example: ‘She took a deep draft from the bottle of water.’;

Beer drawn from a cask or keg rather than a bottle or can.

A cheque, an order for money to be paid.

Conscription, the system of forcing people to serve in the military.

Example: ‘He left the country to avoid the draft.’;

(politics) A system of forcing or convincing people to take an elected position.

(sports) A system of assigning rookie players to professional sports teams.

(rail transport) The pulling force (tension) on couplers and draft gear during a slack stretched condition.

The bevel given to the pattern for a casting, so that it can be drawn from the sand without damaging the mould.

(transitive) To write a first version, make a preliminary sketch.

To draw in outline; to make a draught, sketch, or plan of, as in architectural and mechanical drawing.

To write a law.

(transitive) To conscript a person, force a person to serve in some capacity, especially in the military.

Example: ‘He was drafted during the Vietnam War.’; ‘There was a campaign to draft Smith to run for President.’; ‘They drafted me to be the chairperson of the new committee.’;

To select and separate an animal or animals from a group.

Example: ‘The calves were drafted from the cows.’;

To select a rookie player onto a professional sports team.

Example: ‘After his last year of college football, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins.’;

(intransitive) To follow very closely behind another vehicle, thereby providing an aerodynamic advantage to both lead and follower, thereby conserving energy or increasing speed.

To draw out; to call forth.

To draw fibers out of a clump, for spinning in the production of yarn.

(not comparable) Referring to drinks on tap, in contrast to bottled.

Example: ‘I'd rather have a fresh, cheap draft beer.’;

The act of drawing; also, the thing drawn. Same as Draught.

Example: ‘Everything available for draft burden.’;

A selecting or detaching of soldiers from an army, or from any part of it, or from a military post; also from any district, or any company or collection of persons, or from the people at large; also, the body of men thus drafted.

Example: ‘Several of the States had supplied the deficiency by drafts to serve for the year.’;

An order from one person or party to another, directing the payment of money; a bill of exchange.

Example: ‘I thought it most prudent to defer the drafts till advice was received of the progress of the loan.’;

An allowance or deduction made from the gross weight of goods.

A drawing of lines for a plan; a plan delineated, or drawn in outline; a delineation. See Draught.

The form of any writing as first drawn up; the first rough sketch of written composition, to be filled in, or completed. See Draught.

A narrow border left on a finished stone, worked differently from the rest of its face.

The slant given to the furrows in the dress of a millstone.

Depth of water necessary to float a ship. See Draught.

A current of air. Same as Draught.

A quantity of liquid poured out for drinking; a dose.

The act of drawing a quantity of liquid from a large container; also, the quantity of liquid so drawn.

A device for regulating the flow of gases in a chimney, stovepipe, fireplace, etc.; as, to close the chimney draft. It is usually a flat plate of the same internal dimensions as the flue, which can be rotated to be parallel to or perpendicular to the current of gases.

Pertaining to, or used for, drawing or pulling (as vehicles, loads, etc.). Same as Draught; as, a draft horse.

Relating to, or characterized by, a draft, or current of air. Same as Draught.

To draw the outline of; to delineate.

To compose and write; as, to draft a memorial.

To draw from a military band or post, or from any district, company, or society; to detach; to select; especially, to compulsorily select and induct members of a population to serve in the armed forces.

Example: ‘HotLips Houlihan: How did a degenerate person like him achieve such a position of responsibility in the army?Radar: He was drafted.’; ‘Some royal seminary in Upper Egypt, from whence they drafted novices to supply their colleges and temples.’;

To transfer by draft.

Example: ‘All her rents been drafted to London.’;

a document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on another

a current of air (usually coming into a room or vehicle)

a preliminary sketch of a design or picture

a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg;

Example: ‘they served beer on draft’;

preliminary version of a written work

the depth of a vessel's keel below the surface (especially when loaded)

a regulator for controlling the flow of air in a fireplace

a dose of liquid medicine;

Example: ‘he took a sleeping draft’;

compulsory military service

a large and hurried swallow;

Example: ‘he finished it at a single gulp’;

the act of moving a load by drawing or pulling

draw up an outline or sketch for something;

Example: ‘draft a speech’;

engage somebody to enter the army

make a blueprint of

Operation; action.

Method of operation.

(arithmetic) The incidental or subsidiary calculations performed in solving an overall problem.

Example: ‘Be sure to check your working.’;

Fermentation.

(of bodies of water) Becoming full of a vegetable substance.

A place where work is carried on.

Example: ‘the abandoned mine workings’;

That is or are functioning.

Example: ‘a working ventilator’;

That suffices but requires additional work.

Example: ‘a working copy of the script’;

In paid employment.

Example: ‘working mothers’;

Of or relating to employment.

Example: ‘the working week’;

Enough to allow one to use something.

Used in real life; practical.

Example: ‘The working minimum focus distance is the distance from the closest focusable subject to the lens.’;

a & n. from Work.

Example: ‘The word must cousin be to the working.’;

a mine or quarry that is being or has been worked

actively engaged in paid work;

Example: ‘the working population’; ‘the ratio of working men to unemployed’; ‘a working mother’; ‘robots can be on the job day and night’;

adequate for practical use; especially sufficient in strength or numbers to accomplish something;

Example: ‘the party has a working majority in the House’; ‘a working knowledge of Spanish’;

adopted as a temporary basis for further work;

Example: ‘a working draft’; ‘a working hypothesis’;

(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing;

Example: ‘in running (or working) order’; ‘a functional set of brakes’;

serving to permit or facilitate further work or activity;

Example: ‘discussed the working draft of a peace treaty’; ‘they need working agreements with their neighbor states on interstate projects’;