draw
verb OPAL S
/drɔː/
/drɔː/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they draw | /drɔː/ /drɔː/ |
| he / she / it draws | /drɔːz/ /drɔːz/ |
| past simple drew | /druː/ /druː/ |
| past participle drawn | /drɔːn/ /drɔːn/ |
| -ing form drawing | /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/ /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to make pictures, or a picture of something, with a pencil, pen or chalk (but not paint)
- You draw beautifully.
- draw something to draw a picture/map/diagram
- She drew a house.
- a crudely drawn child's face
- draw something with something He drew a circle in the sand with a stick.
Collocations Fine artsFine artsCreating artTopics Arta1- make a work of art/a drawing/a sketch/a sculpture/a statue/engravings/etchings/prints
- do an oil painting/a self-portrait/a line drawing/a rough sketch
- create a work of art/an artwork/paintings and sculptures
- produce paintings/portraits/oil sketches/his most celebrated work/a series of prints
- paint a picture/landscape/portrait/mural/in oils/in watercolours/(US English) in watercolors/on canvas
- draw a picture/a portrait/a cartoon/a sketch/a line/a figure/the human form/in charcoal/in ink
- sketch a preliminary drawing/a figure/a shape
- carve a figure/an image/a sculpture/an altarpiece/reliefs/a block of wood
- sculpt a portrait bust/a statue/an abstract figure
- etch a line/a pattern/a design/a name into the glass
- mix colours/(US English) colors/pigments/paints
- add/apply thin/thick layers of paint/colour/(US English) color/pigment
- use oil pastels/charcoal/acrylic paint/a can of spray paint
- work in bronze/ceramics/stone/oils/pastels/watercolour/a wide variety of media
- paint/depict a female figure/a biblical scene/a pastoral landscape/a domestic interior
- depict/illustrate a traditional/mythological/historical/religious theme
- create an abstract composition/a richly textured surface/a distorted perspective
- paint dark/rich/skin/flesh tones
- use broad brush strokes/loose brushwork/vibrant colours/a limited palette/simple geometric forms
- develop/adopt/paint in a stylized manner/an abstract style
- commission an altarpiece/a bronze bust of somebody/a portrait/a religious work/an artist to paint something
- frame a painting/portrait
- hang art/a picture/a painting
- display/exhibit modern art/somebody’s work/a collection/original artwork/drawings/sculptures/a piece/a painting
- be displayed/hung in a gallery/museum
- install/place a sculpture in/at/on something
- erect/unveil a bronze/marble/life-size statue
- hold/host/mount/open/curate/see an exhibition (especially British English)/(North American English usually) an exhibit
- be/go on (British English) exhibition/(North American English) exhibit
- feature/promote/showcase a conceptual artist/contemporary works
- collect African art/modern British paintings/Japanese prints
- restore/preserve a fresco/great works of art
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- accurately
- beautifully
- carefully
- …
- [transitive] draw something to describe something in words in a way that produces an image in somebody's mind
- The report drew a grim picture of inefficiency and corruption.
- She write lively stories with sharply drawn characters.
- [transitive] to have a particular idea after you have studied something or thought about it
- draw something Is it possible to draw inferences about the environment during the Bronze Age?
- draw something from something What conclusions did you draw from the report?
- We can draw some lessons for the future from this accident.
- [transitive] draw something to express a comparison or a contrast; to define the limits of something
- to draw a comparison/a parallel/an analogy/a distinction between two events
- He attempted to draw a contrast between himself and the prime minister.
- The site's boundaries were tightly drawn by the Department of the Environment.
- [transitive] to produce a reaction or response
- draw something The plan has drawn a lot of criticism.
- draw something from somebody The announcement drew loud applause from the audience.
- The proposal has drawn interest from local businessmen.
- The reforms drew widespread support from voters.
- [transitive] draw something to direct or attract somebody's attention to something
- Our aim is to draw attention to the plight of these children.
- The exhibition drew great critical attention.
- My eyes were drawn to the man in the corner.
- Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.
- [transitive] to attract or interest somebody
- draw somebody The movie is drawing large audiences.
- The events continue to draw huge crowds.
- The course draws students from all over the country.
- draw somebody to something Her screams drew passers-by to the scene.
Extra Examples- We asked the surfing champion what first drew him to the sport.
- Animals are instinctively drawn to those who like them.
- He was increasingly drawn to the idea of making short films.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- immediately
- inevitably
- inexorably
- …
- from
- to
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move in the direction mentioned
- The train drew into the station.
- The train drew in.
- The figures in the distance seemed to be drawing closer.
- Their car drew alongside ours.
- (figurative) Her retirement is drawing near.
- (figurative) The meeting was drawing to a close.
Extra Examples- As he drew near, I could see that he was limping.
- as the boat drew towards the shore
- He approached her but she drew away.
- [transitive] draw something/somebody + adv./prep. to move something/somebody by pulling it or them gently
- He drew the cork out of the bottle.
- I drew my chair up closer to the fire.
- She drew me onto the balcony.
- I tried to draw him aside (= for example where I could talk to him privately).
- She sat with her legs drawn up on the sofa.
- (figurative) The project enables students to draw together their knowledge, skills and experience.
Synonyms pullpull- drag
- draw
- haul
- tow
- tug
- pull to hold something and move it in a particular direction; to hold or be attached to a vehicle and move it along behind you:
- Pull the chair nearer the table.
- They use oxen to pull their carts.
- drag to pull somebody/something in a particular direction or behind you, usually along the ground, and especially with effort:
- The sack is too heavy to lift—you’ll have to drag it.
- draw (formal) to move somebody/something by pulling them/it gently; to pull a vehicle such as a carriage:
- I drew my chair closer to the fire.
- a horse-drawn carriage
- haul to pull somebody/something to a particular place with a lot of effort:
- Fishermen were hauling in their nets.
- tow to pull a car, boat or light plane behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain:
- Our car was towed away by the police.
- tug to pull somebody/something hard in a particular direction:
- She tried to escape but he tugged her back.
- to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow/tug somebody/something along/down/towards something
- to pull/drag/draw/haul/tow somebody/something behind you
- to pull/drag/draw/haul a cart/sledge
- to pull/draw a coach/carriage
- to pull/haul/tow a truck
- horses pull/draw/haul something
- dogs pull/drag/haul something
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- half
- partly
- back
- …
- onto
- out of
- to
- …
- [transitive, often passive] (of horses, etc.) to pull a vehicle such as a carriage
- be drawn by something The Queen's coach was drawn by six horses.
- a horse-drawn carriage
- [transitive] draw something to open or close curtains, etc.
- The blinds were drawn.
- It was getting dark so I switched on the light and drew the curtains.
- She drew back the curtains and let the sunlight in.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- half
- partly
- back
- …
- onto
- out of
- to
- …
- [transitive, intransitive] draw (something) (on somebody) to take out a weapon, such as a gun or a sword, in order to attack somebody
- She drew a revolver on me.
- He came towards them with his sword drawn.
- [transitive] [often passive] to make somebody say more about something
- be drawn (about/on something) Spielberg refused to be drawn on his next movie.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- accurately
- beautifully
- carefully
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] to decide something by picking cards, tickets or numbers by chance
- draw for something We drew for partners.
- draw something He drew the winning ticket.
- draw something (from something) Names were drawn from a hat for the last few places.
- be drawn against somebody/something Italy has been drawn against Spain in the first round.
- draw somebody/something to do something Italy has been drawn to play Spain.
- [intransitive, transitive] to finish a game without either team winning
- England and France drew.
- England and France drew 3–3.
- draw with/against somebody England drew with/against France.
- draw something England drew their game against France.
- [transitive] to take money or payments from a bank account or post office synonym withdraw
- draw something out (of something) I drew out £200.
- Can I draw $80 out of my account?
- draw something (from something) She went to the post office to draw her pension.
- draw something on something The cheque was drawn on his personal account.
- [transitive] draw something (+adv./prep.) to take or pull liquid or gas from somewhere
- to draw water from a well
- The device draws gas along the pipe.
Extra Examples- The ducts draw out stale air.
- The company has been drawing gas and oil out of the rich ground for 62 years.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- half
- partly
- back
- …
- onto
- out of
- to
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] to breathe in smoke or air
- draw at/on something He drew thoughtfully on his pipe.
- draw something in She breathed deeply, drawing in the fresh mountain air.
make pictures
describe in words
conclusion
comparison/limits
get reaction
attract
move
pull
curtains
weapon
make somebody talk
choose
game
money
liquid/gas
smoke/air
Word OriginOld English dragan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dragen and German tragen, also to draught.
Idioms
at daggers drawn
- (British English) if two people are at daggers drawn, they are very angry with each other
the battle lines are drawn
- used to say that people or groups have shown which side they intend to support in an argument or contest that is going to beginTopics Opinion and argumentc2
draw/get a bead on somebody/something
- (especially North American English) to aim carefully at somebody/something before shooting a gun
- One of the police officers drew a bead on the gunman and fired.
draw a blank
- to get no response or result
- So far, the police investigation has drawn a blank.
draw blood
- to make somebody bleed
draw breath (British English)
(US English draw a breath)
- to stop doing something and rest
- She talks all the time and hardly stops to draw breath.
- He spoke solidly for twenty minutes, barely pausing to draw breath.
- (literary) to live; to be alive
- He was as kind a man as ever drew breath.
draw somebody’s fire
- to make somebody direct their anger, criticism, etc. at you, so that others do not have to face it
draw/pull your horns in
- to start being more careful in your behaviour, especially by spending less money than before
- Small businesses have had to pull their horns in during the recession.
draw the line (at something/at doing something)
- to refuse to do something; to set a limit
- I don't mind helping, but I draw the line at doing everything myself.
- We would have liked to invite all our relatives, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
draw the line (between something and something)
- to make a difference between two closely related ideas
- Where do you draw the line between genius and madness?
draw a line under something
- (British English) to say that something is finished and not worth discussing any more
draw/cast lots (for something/to do something)
- to use a method of choosing somebody/something that involves putting a number folded pieces of paper in a bag, one of them with a mark on it. People then take it in turns to take a piece of paper from the bag and the one who takes the paper with the mark on it is chosen.
- They drew lots for the right to go first.
draw the short straw (British English)
(North American English get the short end of the stick)
- to be the person in a group who is chosen or forced to perform an unpleasant duty or task
- I drew the short straw and had to clean the toilets.
draw straws (for something)
- to use a method of choosing somebody to do or have something in which each person takes a piece of paper, etc. from a container and the one whose paper has a special mark is chosen
- We drew straws for who went first.
draw yourself up/rise to your full height
- to stand straight and tall in order to show that you are determined, powerful or important
- He drew himself up to his full height and glared at us.
(draw) a line in the sand
- (to establish) a clear limit to what you will do or accept
- It’s time to draw a line in the sand and stop allowing workplace bullying to continue.
take/draw somebody to one side
- to speak to somebody in private, especially in order to warn or tell them about something