craft

American  

[kraft, krahft] / kræft, krɑft /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Related Words

See cunning.

Other Word Forms

• craftless adjective

Etymology

Origin of craft

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

Example Sentences

As well as running a community pantry, All Pulling Together helps people find employment, hosts activities such as craft groups and book clubs, and supports children who aren't in school to get back into education.

From BBC

And those who use artistic talent to craft stories help their nation remember its origin, its purpose and its future.

From The Wall Street Journal

With the sides still far apart and a deadline looming, the league’s goal is to avoid a repeat of 2012 by crafting a blueprint based on lessons learned from everything that went wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal

The odd-looking craft essentially aimed to test whether they could fly with no wings, instead generating lift from the body of the plane.

From Los Angeles Times

The Domino’s and Ryanair posts were successful because they aligned with the playful brand images they’ve crafted over time, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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