[rɑːft], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a flat buoyant structure of timber or other materials fastened together, used as a boat or floating platform

- a layer of reinforced concrete forming the foundation of a building


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘beam, rafter’): from Old Norse raptr ‘rafter’. The verb dates from the late 17th century

[rɑːft], (Verb)

Definitions:
- travel on or as if on a raft
(e.g: I have rafted along the Rio Grande)

- bring or fasten together (a number of boats or other objects) side by side
(e.g: we rafted the boats together off the shores of Murchison Island)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘beam, rafter’): from Old Norse raptr ‘rafter’. The verb dates from the late 17th century

[rɑːft], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a large amount of something
(e.g: a raft of new policy promises)


Phrases:

Origin:
mid 19th century: alteration of dialect raff ‘abundance’ (perhaps of Scandinavian origin), by association with raft in the sense ‘floating mass’