draw
draw
I
/ˈdrɑː/ verb , draws, drew /ˈdruː/, drawn /ˈdrɑːn/, draw·ing
1 : to make (a picture, image, etc.) by making lines on a surface especially with a pencil, pen, marker, chalk, etc., but not usually with paint
[ + obj ] He drew me a picture of the bike. = He drew a picture of the bike for me.
The computer can draw the graph for you.
Students drew maps of the states and labeled them.
[ no obj ] You draw very well.
She sat down and began to draw. — compare paint
2 [ + obj ] : to cause (attention) to be given to someone or something
The case has drawn attention to the fact that many athletes never graduate.
I would like to draw your attention to the third line.
He didn't want to draw attention to himself. [=he did not want to cause people to notice him]
3 [ + obj ]
3 a : to cause (someone or something) to come : to attract (someone or something)
The band always draws a large crowd.
She felt drawn [=attracted] to the young man.
The college draws students from around the world.
The animals were drawn to the campsite by the smell of food.
We hope the display in the window will draw customers in from the street.
The lure of city life has drawn away many of the town's young people.
My eye was drawn to the painting. [=some characteristic of the painting made me want to look at it]
3 b : to cause (someone) to become involved or interested in something or someone
— + in, into, or to
What first drew you to teaching?
A good writer knows how to draw readers in. [=how to make readers interested; how to make people want to read something]
— often used as (be/get) drawn
She was drawn in by his friendly manner. [=she wanted to know and talk to him because he was friendly]
She got drawn into the conversation.
4 [ + obj ] : to get or receive (something)
a television show that has drawn consistently high ratings
The player drew a foul.
: to get (a particular response or reaction)
His speech drew cheers from the crowd.
The movie has drawn much criticism/praise from critics.
He is a talented high school athlete who has drawn the interest of several major colleges.
The principal's remarks have drawn fire [=attracted angry criticism] from both parents and teachers.
5 a always followed by an adverb or preposition [ no obj ] : to move in a specified direction
She drew away from the spider.
He opened the door and drew back in horror/shock/fear.
The car drew (up) alongside us.
The train drew [=pulled] into the station.
She drew her eyebrows together in a frown of concentration.
— sometimes used figuratively
He drew away [=(more commonly) withdrew] from his family.
5 b [ + obj ] : to move (something) by pulling
a carriage drawn by horses = a horse-drawn carriage
Draw the curtains/blinds/shades. [=open or close the curtains/blinds/shades]
a special fabric that draws moisture away from the skin
She drew the blanket over her head.
Draw up a chair and join us. [=bring a chair to where we are and sit down with us]
She sat down in the chair and drew up her knees/legs. [=she bent her legs and moved her knees toward her chest]
— sometimes used figuratively
The tragedy drew us closer together. [=made us emotionally closer]
6 [ no obj ] : to move gradually or steadily in time or space
The lion drew closer to its prey.
The sun is setting and the day is drawing to a close. [=ending]
Spring is drawing near/nigh. [=approaching]
The car drew to a halt/stop. [=the car slowed down and stopped]
7 [ + obj ]
7 a : to form (something, such as an idea or conclusion) after thinking carefully about information you have
You can draw your own conclusions.
— often + from
a writer who draws ideas from newspaper stories
We can draw lessons from past mistakes. [=we can learn from past mistakes]
7 b : to describe how two or more things are similar or different : to make (a comparison, distinction, etc.) between two or more things
Many people have been drawing comparisons between the two movies. [=have been saying that the movies are similar]
She drew important distinctions between the two methods. [=described important ways that the two methods are different]
8 a [ + obj ] : to take (something) out of a container, pocket, etc.
They were arguing, and then one of them drew [=pulled] a gun.
One of the thieves drew a knife on her. [=one of the thieves took a knife out of a pocket, container, etc., and pointed it at her]
She drew water from the well.
— see also at daggers drawn at dagger
8 b [ + obj ] : to cause (something) to come out of a source
He drew [=ran] water for a bath.
8 c [ + obj ] : to get (something) from a source
The car also draws power from a battery.
She draws strength/inspiration from her loving family.
8 d : to take (a card) from a group of cards
[ + obj ] Draw four cards.
[ no obj ] You haven't drawn yet.
9 a [ + obj ] : to choose (a thing) from a group without knowing which one you are choosing
She drew the winning number/ticket.
We drew names from a hat to decide who would go on the trip.
(Brit) The U.S. team have been drawn against [=chosen to play against] Greece in the first round.
— see also draw lots at lot
9 b [ no obj ] : to decide something by choosing something from a group
We'll draw to see who will drive.
— see also
10 [ + obj ] : to make (something, such as a legal document) in a proper or legal form
We hired a lawyer to draw a will.
— often + up
They drew up a contract/proposal/plan/list.
11 a [ + obj ] : to take (something, such as air or smoke) into your lungs by breathing
She drew a deep breath before responding.
— often + in
He drew the fresh air in. = He drew in the fresh air.
11 b [ no obj ] : to let air flow through
Make sure the chimney is drawing properly.
The pipe draws well.
12 [ + obj ]
12 a : to take (money) from a bank account : withdraw
— usually + from or out
He drew $100 from the bank.
She drew out the money.
12 b : to receive (money) regularly from an employer, government, bank, etc.
He draws a salary of about $100,000.
He draws unemployment benefits.
She has started to draw her pension.
12 c : to write (a check) and have money taken from a bank account
You are now authorized to draw checks from the corporate account.
13 Brit : to finish a game, contest, etc., without having a winner : tie
[ + obj ] We drew [=(US) tied] the game 3‒3.
[ no obj ] The teams drew [=(US) tied] 3‒3. [=each team scored three points]
— often + against
The teams have drawn against each other.
14 [ + obj ] archery : to bend (a bow) by pulling back the string
He drew his bow and aimed at the target.
15 [ + obj ] Brit : to cause (someone) to say more about something especially by questioning — often used as (be) drawn;
— usually + on
She refused to be drawn on whether the company is considering a merger.
16 [ + obj ] technical, of a boat : to need (a particular depth of water) in order to float
The ship draws 45 feet of water.
draw a bead on — see bead
draw a blank — see blank, 2
draw a/the line — see line, 1
draw blood — see blood
draw in your horns — see horn, 1
draw off [ phrasal verb ]
draw off (something) or draw (something) off : to take or remove (something) from a source or supply
They illegally drew off thousands of dollars that had been donated to the charity.
draw on/upon [ phrasal verb ]
1 draw on literary : to come closer in time
It became colder as night drew on. [=approached]
2 draw on/upon (something)
2 a : to use (something) as a source or supply
The family is drawing on/upon the community for support.
2 b : to use (information, experience, knowledge, etc.) to make something
Her new book draws on her personal experience as a firefighter.
The report draws upon several recent studies.
3 draw on (something) : to breathe in smoke from (a cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc.)
He drew on his cigarette.
draw out [ phrasal verb ]
1 draw (something) out or draw out (something) : to cause something to leave a source or supply
Trees draw water out of the soil.
Salt will draw out moisture from the vegetables.
2 draw (something) out or draw out (something) : to cause (something) to last longer than the usual or expected amount of time
Questions drew the meeting out for another hour.
The movie's love scene was drawn out.
— see also drawn-out, long-drawn-out
3 draw (someone) out or draw out (someone) : to cause (someone) to talk freely
She tried to draw the frightened child out by asking him questions about his toys.
The reporter had an ability to draw out people.
draw straws
◇ If you draw straws, you choose a stick from a group of sticks that are different sizes but that are being held in such a way that they look like they are all the same size. Usually, whoever chooses the shortest stick or gets/draws the short straw will have to do a particular thing.
Let's draw straws to see who will drive.
He drew the short straw so he has to drive.
draw the blinds/curtain/shades on
: to end (something that has been continuing for a long time)
Let's draw the curtain on this investigation.
— see also draw 5b (above), 1
draw up [ phrasal verb ]
1 of a vehicle : to approach and stop at a place
A car drew up [=pulled up] in front of the house.
2 draw (yourself) up : to stand as straight and tall as you can
He drew himself up to (his) full height.
— see also draw 10 (above), 1
————————
II
noun , pl draws [ count ]
1 : someone or something that causes a lot of people to come to a place : attraction
Their band is the main draw at the festival.
The festival is always a big draw.
2 : the final result of a game, contest, etc., that does not have a winner : tie
The game ended in a draw. = The game was a draw. [=both teams/players had the same score]
They played to a 3‒3 draw. [=each team/player had 3 points when the game ended]
3 chiefly Brit : drawing
Who won the (prize) draw?
— often + for
The draw for the raffle will take place in one hour.
4 : an act of breathing in smoke from a cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc. : drag
— often + on or from
He took a long draw on/from his cigarette.
be quick on the draw
: to be quick about removing a gun from where it is kept : to quickly draw a gun and be ready to shoot it
— often used figuratively
When the huge crowd suddenly became unruly, security was quick on the draw. [=security reacted very quickly]
Critics may have been a little too quick on the draw.
the luck of the draw — see luck, 1
