borrador

Borrador is a masculine noun in Spanish with two main meanings. It can refer to a eraser used to remove pencil marks, and it can also mean a preliminary version of a text or document, such as a rough draft of a report, letter, or manuscript.

Etymology and senses. The word derives from borrar, to erase, with the agent suffix -dor indicating the thing or person that performs the action. The eraser sense focuses on tools used to correct writing, while the draft sense describes an initial, unfinished version that is typically revised before finalizing.

Uses and contexts. As an eraser, borrador denotes the instrument or material used to remove pencil traces, commonly expressed as goma de borrar in many regions. In writing and publishing, borrador refers to an early version of a document or manuscript that is circulated for feedback and subsequent revision. In design, journalism, and administration, a borrador may be a working outline or a preliminary plan before the final version is produced.

Regional and stylistic notes. In everyday speech, both senses are widely understood, though goma de borrar is a common synonym for the eraser, while borrador is the preferred term for an initial document version. The concept of a borrador emphasizes the iterative, provisional nature of creation, contrasting with the completed, published result.