raft

¹ American  

[raft, rahft] / ræft, rɑft /

noun

1. a more or less rigid floating platform made of buoyant material or materials.

   an inflatable rubber raft.

2. a collection of logs, planks, casks, etc., fastened together for floating on water.

3. life raft.

4. 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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to transport on a raft.

2. to form (logs or the like) into a raft.

3. to travel or cross by raft.

4. (of an ice floe) to transport (embedded organic or rock debris) from the shore out to sea.

verb (used without object)

1. to use a raft; go or travel on a raft.

2. (of an ice floe) to overlap another ice floe.

raft ² American  

[raft, rahft] / ræft, rɑft /

noun

Informal.

1. a great quantity; a lot.

   a whole raft of trouble.

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raft ¹ British  

/ rɑːft /

noun

1. a buoyant platform of logs, planks, etc, used as a vessel or moored platform

2. a thick slab of reinforced concrete laid over soft ground to provide a foundation for a building

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verb

1. to convey on or travel by raft, or make a raft from

raft ² British  

/ rɑːft /

noun

1. informal  a large collection or amount

   a raft of old notebooks discovered in a cupboard

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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

The UK government has also announced a raft of new policies designed to reduce numbers of those seeking refuge here.

From BBC

Uganda is among a raft of poorer countries pulling back the welcome mat, which officials here blame on deep cuts to American aid.

From The Wall Street Journal

Two vessels sank in the rough seas, a fishing boat in Khanh Hoa province and a smaller raft in Lam Dong, according to the environment ministry.

From Barron's

Both sides have been hit by a raft of players leaving the national squad to rejoin their clubs as the fixture falls outside of the international Test window.

From Barron's

After a raft of potential measures were floated by the government, the Speaker said he had written to the prime minister and questioned whether there was even a need for Wednesday's Budget to take place.

From BBC

Related Words

• barge
• boat
• life raft
• lifeboat