reed
nounverbverbnouncommon in dialogue
- //ɹiːd//
Any of various types of tall stiff perennial grass-like plants growing together in groups near water.
noun
- 1
Any of various types of tall stiff perennial grass-like plants growing together in groups near water.
- 2
The hollow stem of these plants.
- 3
Part of an aerophone musical instrument, comprising a thin piece of wood or metal, which vibrates to produce sound when air passes through it.
- 4
A comb-like part of a beater for beating the weft when weaving.
Coordinate term: sley
- 5
historicalA piece of whalebone or similar for stiffening the skirt or waist of a woman's dress.
- 6
Reeding.
- 7
A tube containing the train of powder for igniting the charge in blasting.
- 8
Straw prepared for thatching a roof.
- 9
obsoleteA missile weapon.
- 10
archaicA measuring rod.
- 11
archaicA measuring rod. A Babylonian unit of measure the length of a reed, equal to half a nindan, or six cubits.
- 12
Variant of reed instrumentShort for reed instrument.
Etymology
From Middle English red, from Old English hrēod, from Proto-West Germanic *hreud (“reed”), of uncertain origin. Cognates Cognate with North Frisian raid (“reed”), Saterland Frisian Räit (“reed”), West Frisian reid (“reed”), Dutch riet (“reed”), German Reet, Ried (“reed”). No cognates in North Germanic languages, but the existence of an otherwise unattested Gothic *𐌷𐍂𐌹𐌿𐌳 (*hriud) was supposed by the brothers Grimm. They also theorised that the word may have a relation to the retas mentioned in Noctes Atticae (Aulus Gellius). The measuring reed sense is the translation of Akkadian qanûm ("cane") used in the Bible and elsewhere.
verb
- 1
To thatch.
- 2
To mill or mint with reeding.
Etymology
From Middle English reden, from the noun (see above).
verb
- 1
Also a form of reesimple past and past participle of ree
Etymology
See ree.
noun
- 1
The fourth stomach of a ruminant; rennet.
Etymology
From Middle English rede (“abomasum”), from Old English rēada, from Proto-West Germanic *raudō.
Forms
- plural
- reeds
- past tense
- reeded
- past participle
- reeded
- present participle
- reeding
- third person singular
- reeds
reed · Any of various types of tall stiff perennial grass-like plants growing together in groups near water.
Reed · A surname from Old English, a spelling variant of Reid.reef · A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near…Reef · A surname from German.