drawing
DRAW-ihng
Drawing (noun) means a picture made with a pencil, pen, or similar tool, without paint. Example: “She pinned her charcoal drawing to the studio wall.”
noun
1
A picture made with a pencil, pen, or similar tool, without paint.
"She pinned her charcoal drawing to the studio wall."
"He made a quick drawing of the building's floor plan."
"The child gave her grandmother a drawing of the family cat."
2
The activity or skill of creating such pictures.
"He took evening classes in life drawing."
"Drawing helps me relax after a long day at work."
"She taught drawing at the local art school for years."
3
A random selection of names or numbers, as in a lottery.
"The winning ticket will be announced at Friday's drawing."
"The drawing is held live every Saturday evening."
"Every ticket holder has an equal chance in the prize drawing."
How to use drawing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA picture made by hand, the skill of making one, or (in American English) a lottery draw.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a pencil drawing
life drawing
a prize drawing
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Word forms
- Plural
- drawings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She pinned her charcoal _____ to the studio wall.
Etymology
From draw plus -ing.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for drawing
See all rhymes for drawing →Frequently asked questions
What does “drawing” mean?
The word “drawing” means a picture made with a pencil, pen, or similar tool, without paint. In plain terms, a picture made by hand, the skill of making one, or (in American English) a lottery draw.
How do you pronounce “drawing”?
“Drawing” is pronounced DRAW-ihng (/ˈdɹɑ.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “drawing” in a sentence?
Here is “drawing” used in a sentence: “She pinned her charcoal drawing to the studio wall.”
What part of speech is “drawing”?
“Drawing” is a noun.
Is “drawing” a common word?
“Drawing” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “drawing” have?
“Drawing” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a picture made with a pencil, pen, or similar tool, without paint.
What is the difference between a drawing and a painting?
A drawing is made with dry or line-based tools such as pencil, pen, charcoal, or crayon, and focuses on line, shape, and shading. A painting is made by applying wet pigment — paint — usually with a brush, and centres on colour and tone. Medium and technique are what set them apart.
What is the difference between a drawing and a sketch?
A sketch is a quick, rough drawing, often unfinished, used to capture an idea or work out a composition. A drawing is generally more finished, detailed, and deliberate. Every sketch is a kind of drawing, but a drawing implies more care and completion than a rapid sketch does.
What are the types of drawing?
Drawing spans many forms: freehand sketching, life drawing from a model, technical or architectural drawing, cartooning, and illustration. It is also grouped by medium — pencil, ink, charcoal, pastel, or digital. Each combines the same basics of line, proportion, and shading to slightly different ends.
Can drawing be learned?
Yes. Although some people seem naturally gifted, drawing is largely a learnable skill built on observation, hand control, and understanding of proportion and light. Regular practice, copying from life, and studying technique all improve ability steadily. Most who believe they 'can't draw' simply haven't trained the skill yet.
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