Legal Dictionary

draft

Definition of draft

Etymology

draught

dragan

Pronunciation

Noun

draft (plural drafts)

An early version of a written work

I have to revise the first draft of my term paper.
A preliminary sketch, rough outline

His first drafts were better than most authors' final products.
(nautical) Depth of water needed to float a ship [also spelled draught].
A current of air, usually coming into a room or vehicle [also spelled draught].
A cheque, an order for money to be paid
An amount of liquid that is drunk in one swallow [also spelled draught]

She took a deep draft from the bottle of water.
conscription, the system of forcing people to serve in the military.

He left the country to avoid the draft.

Verb

to draft (third-person singular simple present drafts, present participle drafting, simple past and past participle drafted)

(transitive) to write a first version, make a preliminary sketch.
write a law
(transitive) to conscript a person, force a person to serve in the military

He was drafted during the Vietnam War.
to select and separate an animal or animals from a group.

The calves were drafted from the cows.
(transitive) to force or convince a person to do a job they do not want to do

They drafted me to be the chairperson of the new committee.
(transitive, sports) to select a rookie player onto a professional sports team

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.

Adjective

draft (not comparable)

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

I'd rather have a fresh, cheap draft beer.

Related terms

References:

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