draughty

Everyday

Of a room or building: having cold air blowing through it from gaps round windows and doors. tree →

In the lessons

An everyday home word, especially for old houses, castles, halls and classrooms in winter. In science lessons on heat, a draughty room loses warm air, and draught excluders and insulation stop it. In stories a draughty old house or castle feels cold, lonely or creepy.

Examples

• The old castle was dark and draughty. tree →
• Close the door, it's draughty in here! tree →
• Grandpa put a sausage-shaped draught excluder by the draughty door. tree →
• The village hall is so draughty that we keep our coats on. tree →
• Badger's house was warm and snug, not draughty at all. tree →
• Draughty windows let heat escape and waste energy. tree →
• The tent was draughty, so we wore woolly hats to sleep. tree →

Note

UK spelling «draughty», US spelling «drafty»; pronounced DRAHF-tee. From «draught» (a current of cold air). «Draughts» is also the UK name of the board game (US «checkers»). Comparative: draughtier, draughtiest.