craft

UK: /ˈkrɑːft/ US: /kræft/ ,(kraft, kräft)

Inflections of 'craft' (n):

crafts

npl (All usages)

craft

npl (When referring to vessels, such as ships or planes)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

craft /kræft/   n., pl. crafts or, for 5, 8. craft, v. 
n. 

1. an art or trade requiring special skill, esp. of the hands:
   [countable] an arts and crafts festival.
2. skill;
   ability to use the hands well or to do a job well:
   [uncountable] He flew the plane with craft that comes from years of experience.
3. [uncountable] cunning;
   deceit.
4. Nautical, Naval Terms a ship or other vessel:
   [countable] He took his small craft out to sea.
5. Nautical, Naval Terms a number of ships or other vessels when thought of as a group:
   [plural* used with a plural verb] Small craft are warned to stay clear.
6. Aeronautics [countable] an aircraft.
7. Aeronautics [plural* used with a plural verb] aircraft when thought of as a group.

v. [~ + object]

8. to make (an object, product, etc.) with great skill and care:
   The carver crafted the miniature wooden horses with great skill; a carefully crafted novel.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

craft  (kraft, kräft), n., pl. crafts or, for 5, 8, craft, v. 
n. 

1. an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, esp. manual skill:
   the craft of a mason.
2. skill;
   dexterity:
   The silversmith worked with great craft.
3. skill or ability used for bad purposes;
   cunning;
   deceit;
   guile.
4. the members of a trade or profession collectively;
   a guild.
5. Nautical, Naval Terms a ship or other vessel.
6. Nautical, Naval Terms a number of ships or other vessels taken as a whole:
   The craft were warned of possible heavy squalls.
7. Aeronautics aircraft collectively.
8. Aeronautics a single aircraft.

v.t. 

9. to make or manufacture (an object, objects, product, etc.) with skill and careful attention to detail.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English cræft strength, skill; cognate with German Kraft, Dutch kracht, Old Norse kraptr

craft′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. metier.
• 2. talent, ability.
• 3. craftiness, shrewdness, deceitfulness, deception. See cunning. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

craft / 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. the members of such a trade, regarded collectively
5. (as modifier): a craft guild
6. a single vessel, aircraft, or spacecraft
7. (functioning as plural) ships, boats, aircraft, or spacecraft collectively

verb

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

Etymology: Old English cræft skill, strength; related to Old Norse kraptr power, skill, Old High German kraft