Draw, in most of its uses, retains some shade of its original sense, to pull, to move forward by the application of force in advance, or to extend in length, and usually expresses an action as gradual or continuous, and leisurely. We pour liquid quickly, but we draw it in a continued stream. We force compliance by threats, but we draw it by gradual prevalence. We may write a letter with haste, but we draw a bill with slow caution and regard to a precise form. We draw a bar of metal by continued beating.
To draw a bow, to bend the bow by drawing the string for discharging the arrow. -- To draw a cover, to clear a cover of the game it contains. - - To draw a curtain, to cause a curtain to slide or move, either closing or unclosing. "Night draws the curtain, which the sun withdraws." Herbert. -- To draw a line, to fix a limit or boundary. -- To draw back, to receive back, as duties on goods for exportation. -- To draw breath, to breathe. Shak. -- To draw cuts or lots. See under Cut, n. -- To draw in. (a) To bring or pull in; to collect. (b) To entice; to inveigle. -- To draw interest, to produce or gain interest. -- To draw off, to withdraw; to abstract. Addison. -- To draw on, to bring on; to occasion; to cause. "War which either his negligence drew on, or his practices procured." Hayward. -- To draw (one) out, to elicit cunningly the thoughts and feelings of another. -- To draw out, to stretch or extend; to protract; to spread out. -- "Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?" Ps. lxxxv. 5. "Linked sweetness long drawn out." Milton. -- To draw over, to cause to come over, to induce to leave one part or side for the opposite one. -- To draw the longbow, to exaggerate; to tell preposterous tales. -- To draw (one) to or on to (something), to move, to incite, to induce. "How many actions most ridiculous hast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy?" Shak. -- To draw up. (a) To compose in due form; to draught; to form in writing. (b) To arrange in order, as a body of troops; to array. "Drawn up in battle to receive the charge." Dryden.
Syn. -- To Draw, Drag. Draw differs from drag in this, that drag implies a natural inaptitude for drawing, or positive resistance; it is applied to things pulled or hauled along the ground, or moved with toil or difficulty. Draw is applied to all bodies moved by force in advance, whatever may be the degree of force; it commonly implies that some kind of aptitude or provision exists for drawing. Draw is the more general or generic term, and drag the more specific. We say, the horses draw a coach or wagon, but they drag it through mire; yet draw is properly used in both cases.
Draw (?), v. i. 1. To pull; to exert strength in drawing anything; to have force to move anything by pulling; as, a horse draws well; the sails of a ship draw well.
A sail is said to draw when it is filled with wind.