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raft

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A flat float that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

raft
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈɹæft

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers

  2. A flat-bottomed craft able to float and drift on water, used for transport or as a waterborne platform.

  3. often followed by `of'

    A large number or amount or extent

  4. A large (but unspecified) number, a lot.

  5. A thick crowd of seabirds or sea mammals, particularly a group of penguins when in the water.

  6. us

    A collection of logs, fallen trees, etc. which obstructs navigation in a river.

verb

  1. Transport on a raft

  2. transitive

    To convey on a raft.

  3. transitive

    To make into a raft.

  4. Travel by raft in water

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
C2 · Proficient (estimated)
Frequency
Uncommon
Formality
Technical

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: A flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers

Used this way, raft is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Large

whole raftsmall raftlarge raft

Collection

rubber raft

Other combinations

life raftraft riverlog raft

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

  • raftsnounPlural form

    A large number or amount.

  • rafternounInflected form

    One of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • raft foundationnounCompound term

    A foundation (usually on soft ground) consisting of an extended layer of reinforced concrete.

More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin

Synonyms

Sense: transport on a raft

slew

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.