Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: SPORT

Language: Old English
Origin: dragan

draw

1 verb
     
draw1 S1 W1 past tense drew past participle drawn
1

picture

[intransitive and transitive] to produce a picture of something using a pencil, pen etc:
Katie had drawn a cottage with a little stream running next to it.
She asked the little girl to draw a picture of the man she'd spoken to.
Keith was drawing a complicated-looking graph.
I've never been able to draw very well.
draw somebody something
Can you draw me a map of how to get there?
2

draw (somebody's) attention

to make someone notice something
draw (somebody's) attention to
I have been asked to draw your attention to the following points.
A dark house can draw attention to the fact that the house is empty.
draw attention to yourself
He didn't want to draw attention to himself.
The case drew international attention.
3

draw a conclusion

to decide that a particular fact or principle is true according to the information you have been given
draw a conclusion from
It would be unwise to draw firm conclusions from the results of a single survey.
4

draw a comparison/parallel/distinction etc

to compare two people or things and show how they are similar or different
draw a comparison/parallel/distinction etc between
The author draws a comparison between East and West Germany and the North-South divide in England.
The report draws a distinction between various forms of health care.
5

get a reaction

[transitive] to get a particular kind of reaction from someone
draw something from somebody
His remarks drew an angry response from Democrats.
draw praise/criticism
The movie drew praise from critics.
6

attract

[transitive] to attract someone or make them want to do something
draw somebody to something
What first drew you to teaching?
Beth felt strangely drawn to this gentle stranger.
The festival is likely to draw huge crowds.
7

get something you need

[transitive] to get something that you need or want from someone or something
draw something from something
I drew a lot of comfort from her kind words.
Plants draw nourishment from the soil.
8

give information

be drawn

[usually in negatives] to give information in reply to questions about something:
She refused to be drawn on the subject.
9

move

[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move in a particular direction:
She drew away, but he pulled her close again.
The boat drew alongside us and a man appeared on the deck.
I arrived just as the train was drawing into the station.
10

draw near/closer

to become closer in time or space:
Maria grew anxious as the men drew closer.
Christmas is drawing near.
11

draw level

DSDG to move into a position where you are equal to someone else in a race, game, or competition:
Black drew level with the other runners.
12

pull somebody/something

[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move someone or something in a particular direction by pulling them gently
draw somebody/something aside/up/across etc
Bobby drew a chair up to the table.
Hussain drew me aside to whisper in my ear.
draw the curtains/a blind etc (=close them by pulling them gently)
13

pull a vehicle

[transitive]TTB if an animal draws a vehicle, it pulls it along:
a carriage drawn by six horses
an ox-drawn cart
14

take something out

[transitive] to take something out of a container, pocket etc
draw something out/from something
Ali reached into his pocket and drew out a piece of paper.
draw a gun/sword/weapon etc
Maria drew her gun nervously and peered out into the gloom.
15

draw a line (between something)

to think or show that one thing is different from another:
Adolescents often use drugs simply to try to draw a line between their own and their parents' way of life.
16

draw the line (at something)

to allow or accept something up to a particular point, but not beyond it:
I don't mind doing some gardening but I draw the line at digging.
17

where do you draw the line?

spoken used to say it is impossible to decide at which point an acceptable limit has been reached:
Some say 50 is too old to have a baby, but where do you draw the line?
18

draw a line under something

to say that something is completely finished and you will not think about it again:
I just want to draw a line under the relationship.
19

draw somebody's eye (to something)

if something draws your eye, it makes you notice it:
My eye was drawn to a painting on the wall.
20

from a bank

also draw out [transitive]BFB to take money from your bank account [= withdraw]:
Hughes had drawn $8000 in cash from a bank in Toronto.
21

receive money

[transitive]BEWPEW to receive an amount of money regularly from a government or financial institution:
How long have you been drawing unemployment benefit?
I'll be drawing my pension before he'll ever get around to asking me to marry him!
22

draw a cheque (on something)

British English draw a check (on something) American EnglishBFB to write a cheque for taking money out of a particular bank account
23

breathe

[intransitive and transitive] to take air or smoke into your lungs:
Ruth paused to draw breath, her voice barely hiding her excitement.
He lit his pipe and drew deeply.
24

draw breath

to find time to have a rest when you are busy:
I've hardly had a moment to draw breath.
25

take liquid from something

[transitive]
a) to take a liquid from something such as a barrel or tap
b) to take water from a well
26

fire

[intransitive] if a fire or chimney draws, it lets the air flow through to make the fire burn well
27

choose

[intransitive and transitive]DG to choose by chance a card, ticket etc that will win a prize:
The winning ticket will be drawn at the Christmas Party.
28

draw lots/straws

to decide who will do something by taking pieces of paper out of a container or choosing straws of hidden lengths:
We drew lots to see who would go first.
29

draw the short straw

used to say that someone has been unlucky because they were chosen to do something that no one else wanted to do:
He drew the short straw and had to drive everyone to the party.
30

game

[intransitive and transitive] especially British EnglishDSDG to finish without either side winning in a game such as football [= tie]:
They drew 3-3.
draw with
Liverpool drew with Juventus.
31

be drawn against somebody

British EnglishDSO to be chosen by chance to play or compete against someone:
England have been drawn against France in next month's game.
32

draw a blank

informal to be unsuccessful in finding information or the answer to a problem:
All his investigations have drawn a blank so far.
33

draw to a halt/stop

TTC if a vehicle draws to a halt or stop, it slows down and stops
34

draw to a close/end

to end:
Festival-goers began to drift off as the evening drew to an end.
35

draw a veil over something

to deliberately keep something unpleasant or embarrassing from being known:
I'd rather draw a veil over what happened last night.
36

draw blood

a) to make someone bleed:
The dog bit her so hard that it drew blood.
b) to make someone angry or embarrass them in an argument, especially a public one:
Barker sought to draw blood by mentioning his rival's weakness of character.
37

draw a bow

to bend a bow by pulling back the string in order to shoot an arrow
38TTW

ship

[transitive] technical if a ship draws a particular depth, it needs that depth of water to float in

➔ be at daggers drawn

at dagger (3)

draw back

phrasal verb
1 to move backwards, especially because you are frightened or surprised:
Suddenly, she drew back, startled.
draw back in horror/shock/fear etc
She peeped into the box and drew back in horror.
2 to decide not to do something, especially because you think it would be bad for you [= withdraw]
draw back from
The government drew back from their extreme standpoint.

draw in

phrasal verb
1TM British English if the days or nights draw in, it starts to get dark earlier in the evening because winter is coming:
In October the nights start drawing in.
2

draw somebody ↔ in

to get someone involved in something:
We should use the demonstration as an opportunity to draw more supporters in.
Despite himself, he found himself being drawn in by the man's warmth and ease.
3

draw in your horns

British EnglishBF to spend less money because you have financial problems

draw somebody into something

phrasal verb
to make someone become involved in something, especially when they do not want to be involved:
He tried to draw her into conversation.
She found herself drawn into a disagreement between two of her neighbours.

draw something ↔ off

phrasal verb
T to remove some liquid from a larger supply:
The cold water is heated as it is drawn off.

draw on

phrasal verb
1

draw on/upon something

to use information, experience, knowledge etc for a particular purpose:
His work draws heavily on learning theories of the 1980s.
She has 20 years' teaching experience to draw on.
2

draw on something

to use part of a supply of something such as money:
I drew on my savings to pay for the repairs.
3

draw on a cigarette/cigar etc

DFT to breathe in smoke from a cigarette etc
4 British English formal if a period of time or an event draws on, it comes closer to its end:
Winter is drawing on.
As the journey drew on, he started to feel tired.

draw out

phrasal verb
1

draw something ↔ out

to take money from your bank account
2

draw somebody ↔ out

to make someone feel less shy and more willing to talk:
She just needed someone to draw her out and take an interest in her.
3

draw something ↔ out

formal to mention a particular piece of information and explain it clearly and in detail:
There are two major themes to be drawn out in this discussion.
4

draw something ↔ out

to make an event last longer than usual:
The final question drew the meeting out for another hour.
 ➔ drawn-out
5TMC British English if the days or nights draw out, it stays light until later in the evening because summer is coming

draw up

phrasal verb
1

draw something ↔ up

SCLB to prepare a written document, such as a list or contract:
Draw up a list of all the things you want to do.
draw up plans/proposals
He was asked to draw up proposals for reforming the law.
The contract was drawn up last year.
2TT if a vehicle draws up, it arrives somewhere and stops:
A taxi drew up at the gate.
3

draw up a chair

to move a chair closer to someone or something
4

draw yourself up (to your full height)

to stand up very straight because you are angry or determined about something:
He drew himself up and said, 'This has gone far enough'.
5

draw your knees up

to bring your legs closer to your body:
Ruth sat, knees drawn up under her chin, and waited.
Definition of draw from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic SPORT
Word of the Day
The SPORT
Word of the Day is:
ground staff

Other related topics