craft

[kraft, krahft]

noun

plural

crafts, craft 

1. an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, especially manual skill.

   the craft of a mason.

2. skill; dexterity.

   The silversmith worked with great craft.

   Synonyms: ability, talent

3. skill or ability used for bad purposes; cunning; deceit; guile.

   Synonyms: deception, deceitfulness, shrewdness, craftiness

4. the members of a trade or profession collectively; a guild.

5. a ship or other vessel.

6. a number of ships or other vessels taken as a whole.

   The craft were warned of possible heavy squalls.

7. aircraft collectively.

8. a single aircraft.

adjective

1. noting or relating to a food or other product made with special skill, especially manual skill.

   craft beer; craft coffee; a line of craft furniture.

verb (used with object)

1. to make or manufacture (an object or product) with skill and careful attention to detail.

craft

/ krɑːft /

noun

1. skill or ability, esp in handiwork

2. skill in deception and trickery; guile; cunning

3. an occupation or trade requiring special skill, esp manual dexterity

4. 1. the members of such a trade, regarded collectively

   2. ( as modifier )

      a craft guild

5. a single vessel, aircraft, or spacecraft

6. (functioning as plural) ships, boats, aircraft, or spacecraft collectively

verb

1. (tr) to make or fashion with skill, esp by hand

Other Word Forms

• craftless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of craft¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cræft “strength, skill”; cognate with German Kraft, Dutch kracht, Old Norse kraptr

Word History and Origins

Origin of craft¹

Old English cræft skill, strength; related to Old Norse kraptr power, skill, Old High German kraft

Synonym Study

See cunning.

Example Sentences

The new district maps favor Democratic candidates and were crafted to unseat five Republican incumbents, which could erase Republicans’ narrow edge in the the U.S.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In his apartment, he made clever spy gadgets, crafting pencils with hidden chambers under removable erasers, cutting hidden compartments into cuff links and batteries.

Read more on Literature

Overhead, the whir of drones is constant—as many as 10 Russian craft for every Ukrainian one, according to Ukrainian troops.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In crafting what Vallade calls the “phantasmagoric imagery” that conveys Amélie’s euphoria and melancholy, the color palette played a critical role.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Nicholas was instantly enamored with the craft, so much so that Peterson later gave him his own swarm.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aircraft 
• airplane 
• barge 
• boat 
• plane 
• ship 
• spacecraft 
• vessel