reed

Pluralreeds

Formsreeds, reeding, reeded

1. 1
   water plantnouncountable

   A tall, stiff plant like grass that grows in groups near water.

   Ducks hid among the reeds at the edge of the pond.

   A tall reed bent low in the wind by the river.

   UsageOften the reeds, as in among the reeds.

2. 2
   vibrating stripnouncountable

   A thin piece of wood or metal in some instruments that shakes to make sound when you blow.

   She wet the reed before she played her clarinet.

   My saxophone reed cracked, so I need a new one.

   Note
3. 3
   stalknouncountable

   The hollow stem of a reed plant.

   The boy made a whistle from a dry reed.

   Long ago, people wrote with pens cut from reeds.

4. 4
   wind instrumentnouncountableabbreviation

   Short for reed instrument: an instrument played with a reed, like the clarinet, saxophone, or oboe.

   He moved from flute to reeds when he joined the band.

   Our school band needs one more reed player.

   UsageOften reeds, the reed section or a reed player.

5. 5
   roof strawnouncountable or uncountable

   Straw made ready for covering a roof.

   The thatcher used wheat reed from the farm to cover the roof.

   The farmer combed his best wheat straw into reed for thatching.

   Similarthatch

6. 6
   loom partnouncountable

   A part of a loom, shaped like a comb, that pushes each new thread tight.

   She pulled each thread through the reed of her loom.

   The reed pushed the new row of yarn tight against the cloth.

   Note
7. 7
   column decorationnoununcountable

   A decoration of thin, rounded raised lines set side by side on a building.

   The old fireplace has reed molding carved down each side.

   A thin reed molding runs around the top of the mirror frame.

   UsageOften in reed molding.

   Note
8. 8
   coin edgesverbtransitive

   To make small raised lines along the edge of a coin.

   At the mint, machines reed the edge of every new coin.

   The edges of these coins were reeded, so they feel rough.

   UsageOften reeded, as in a reeded edge.

   Similarmill

   Note

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