wire-draw verb trans. ['wʌɪǝdrɔ:] Now rare. Pa. t. -drew [-dru:]; pa. pple -drawn [-drɔ:n]. L16.
[Back-form. from WIRE-DRAWER.]
1. Draw out (metal) into wire; practise wire-drawing. Also more widely, draw out (any material thing) to an elongated form; stretch. L16.
b. Cause (steam or water) to pass through a small aperture. M18.

2. fig.
a. Prolong to an inordinate length; protract unduly, spin out. Also, reduce to great slenderness, attenuate. L16.
■ F. Burney To fill up the middle and end of an evening by wire-drawing the comments afforded by the beginning.
b. Refine, apply, or press (an argument etc.) with idle or excessive subtlety. Formerly also, induce, extract, introduce, etc., by subtle persuasion or cunning persistence. E17.
■ R. South Nor am I for forcing, or wiredrawing the Sense of the Text.
■ S. Richardson She sought only to gain time, in order to wire-draw me into a consent.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲