raft
1 Americannoun
-
a more or less rigid floating platform made of buoyant material or materials.
an inflatable rubber raft.
-
a collection of logs, planks, casks, etc., fastened together for floating on water.
-
Building Trades. a slab of reinforced concrete providing a footing on yielding soil, usually for a whole building, so that the weight of the soil that would be displaced by the settlement of the building exceeds the weight of the building itself; mat.
verb (used with object)
-
to transport on a raft.
-
to form (logs or the like) into a raft.
-
to travel or cross by raft.
-
(of an ice floe) to transport (embedded organic or rock debris) from the shore out to sea.
verb (used without object)
-
to use a raft; go or travel on a raft.
-
(of an ice floe) to overlap another ice floe.
noun
noun
-
a buoyant platform of logs, planks, etc, used as a vessel or moored platform
-
a thick slab of reinforced concrete laid over soft ground to provide a foundation for a building
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
- rafting noun
Etymology
Origin of raft1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English raft(e), “(wooden) beam, spear,” from Old Norse raptr rafter 1
Origin of raft2
An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; variant of raff
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The junta frequently grants prison amnesties on public holidays, and Monday's raft of notices also announced the release of more than 2,800 other prisoners and 10 jailed foreign nationals -- without detailing their offences.
From Barron's
Yes, there may be a bumpy transition and many roles will change, but businesses and the broader economy will emerge more prosperous, creating a raft of new jobs, the narrative goes.
As the country heads to the polls next week, it appears politicians have taken note of their anger - promising a raft of changes to appease it.
From BBC
A few hours before the show went on the air, he saw a raft of new activity on Kalshi’s order book.
From Barron's
A raft of other sanctions has been applied to individuals and state entities in Caracas.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
