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Waft vs Raft - What's the difference?

waft | raft |

In lang=en terms the difference between waft and raft

is that waft is to be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float while raft is to travel by raft.

As verbs the difference between waft and raft

is that waft is (ergative) to (cause to) float easily or gently through the air while raft is to convey on a raft or raft can be (reave).

As nouns the difference between waft and raft

is that waft is a light breeze while raft is a flat structure made of planks, barrels etc, that floats on water, and is used for transport, emergencies or a platform for swimmers or raft can be a large (but unspecified) number, a lot.

waft

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (ergative) To (cause to) float easily or gently through the air.
  • * A breeze came in through the open window and wafted her sensuous perfume into my eager nostrils.
  • * 1922 , (James Joyce), Chapter 13
    • Through the open window of the church the fragrant incense was wafted and with it the fragrant names of her who was conceived without stain of original sin…
  • * 1914 , Hugh G. Evelyn-White’s translation of Hymn to Aphrodite from the .[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0138%3Ahymn%3D6]
    • There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her over the waves of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam, and there the gold-filleted Hours welcomed her joyously.
  • To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.
  • * Dryden
    • And now the shouts waft near the citadel.
  • To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon.
  • * Shakespeare
    • But soft: who wafts us yonder?

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A light breeze.
  • Something (a scent or odor), such as a perfume, that is carried through the air.
  • * 1908 ,
    • Meanwhile, the wafts from his old home pleaded, whispered, conjured, and finally claimed him imperiously.
  • * 2010 September, "The SLM'' Calendar", , ISSN 1090-5723, volume 16, issue 9, page 170:
    • Patrol Magazine says of this Oxford, Miss., band: "Guitars are responsible for every noise in Colour Revolt's mix—not a single note of piano, waft of synthesizer, or evidence of electronic tampering are to be found."
  • (nautical) A flag, (also called a waif or wheft), used to indicate wind direction or, with a knot tied in the center, as a signal.

    • raft

    English

    (wikipedia raft)

    Etymology 1

    From Scandinavian; compare West (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A flat structure made of planks, barrels etc., that floats on water, and is used for transport, emergencies or a platform for swimmers.
  • A flat-bottomed inflatable craft for floating or drifting on water.
  • A thick crowd of seabirds or sea mammals.
  • (US) A collection of logs, fallen trees, etc. which obstructs navigation in a river.
  • (slang, informal) A large collection of people or things taken indiscriminately.
  • * W. D. Howells
    • a whole raft of folks
    Derived terms
    * life raft

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to convey on a raft
  • to make into a raft
  • to travel by raft

    • Related terms

    * rafter * whitewater rafting

    Etymology 2

    Alteration of (raff).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A large (but unspecified) number, a lot.
  • * 2007 , Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon , Blue Bridge 2008, p. 31:
    • Among those arrested was the grand master himself, Jacques de Molay, who found himself facing a raft of charges based on the specious evidence of former knights [...].

    Etymology 3

    Verb

    (head)
  • (reave)
    • (Spenser)

    Anagrams

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