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Definition of craft noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

craft

noun
 
/krɑːft/
 
/kræft/
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  1. [countable, uncountable] an activity involving a special skill at making things with your hands
    • traditional crafts like basket-weaving
    • a craft fair/workshop
    see also arts and crafts
    Extra Examples
    • Sheep shearing is a highly skilled craft.
    • Subjects taught include art and craft, drama, and languages.
    • The men practised various traditional crafts, such as carving toys out of bone.
    Topics Shoppingb2, Hobbiesb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • skilled
    • ancient
    • traditional
    verb + craft
    • practise/​practice
    craft + noun
    • activity
    • project
    • work
    phrases
    • art and craft
    • arts and crafts
    See full entry
  2. [singular] all the skills needed for a particular activity
    • chefs who learned their craft in top hotels
    • the writer’s craft
    Extra Examples
    • comedians plying their craft for an agency
    • a carpenter who is a real master of his craft
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + craft
    • hone
    • learn
    • master
    phrases
    • a master of your craft
    See full entry
  3. [uncountable] (formal, disapproving) skill in making people believe what you want them to believe
    • He knew how to win by craft and diplomacy what he could not gain by force.
  4. [countable]
    (plural craft)
    (formal) a boat or ship
    • Hundreds of small craft bobbed around the liner as it steamed into the harbour.
    • a landing/pleasure craft
    see also landing craftTopics Transport by waterc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • small
    • assault
    • fishing
    See full entry
  5. [countable]
    (plural craft)
    an aircraft or spacecraft
  6. Word OriginOld English cræft ‘strength, skill’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kracht, German Kraft, and Swedish kraft ‘strength’. Sense (4), originally in the expression small craft ‘small trading vessels’, may be elliptical, referring to vessels requiring a small amount of “craft” or skill to handle, as opposed to large ocean-going ships.
See craft in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee craft in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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