reed
noun
\ ˈrēd
\
\
Definition of reed
(Entry 1 of 6)
1a
: any of various tall grasses with slender often prominently jointed stems that grow especially in wet areas
b
: a stem of a reed
c
: a person or thing too weak to rely on : one easily swayed or overcome
3
: arrow
4
: a wind instrument made from the hollow joint of a plant
5
: an ancient Hebrew unit of length equal to six cubits
6a
: a thin elastic tongue (as of cane, wood, metal, or plastic) fastened at one end over an air opening in a wind instrument (such as a clarinet, organ pipe, or accordion) and set in vibration by an air current
b
: a woodwind instrument that produces sound by the vibrating of a reed against the mouthpiece
the reeds of an orchestra
7
: a device on a loom resembling a comb and used to space warp yarns evenly
8
: reeding sense 1a
reed
verb
reeded;
reeding;
reeds
Definition of reed (Entry 2 of 6)
Reed
biographical name (1)
\ ˈrēd
\
\
Definition of Reed (Entry 3 of 6)
John 1887–1920 American journalist, poet, and Communist
Reed
biographical name (2)Definition of Reed (Entry 4 of 6)
Stanley Forman 1884–1980 American jurist
Reed
biographical name (3)Definition of Reed (Entry 5 of 6)
Thomas Brackett 1839–1902 American politician
Reed
biographical name (4)Definition of Reed (Entry 6 of 6)
Walter 1851–1902 American army surgeon
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Other Words from reed
Noun
reedlike
\ ˈrēd-ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms & Antonyms for reed
Synonyms: Noun
doormat, jellyfish, namby-pamby, pushover, weakling, wimp
Antonyms: Noun
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Examples of reed in a Sentence
Noun
the reeds along the edge of a pond the reed section of the orchestraRecent Examples on the Web: Noun
The soft linen, cotton and wool strands keep company with a thicker, reed-like brown fiber, identified as paper, whose assertively different texture and tempo enliven the surface even more. — Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, "Long live Anni Albers: L.A. show pays homage to an overshadowed Bauhaus artist," 5 Aug. 2019 The stunning floor-to-ceiling river reed curtains, found in the bedrooms and other places throughout the property, were handmade by local women, and mimic what hang in the doorways of traditional Zulu homes. — Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, "Check-In: andBeyond Phinda Homestead reopens in South Africa," 9 July 2019 Pack binoculars to view the waterfowl, frogs and wild turkeys that thrive in the marshy perimeter where shoreline footpaths are sometimes obliterated by flattened reeds, soggy backwaters and hip-high grasses. — Mare Czinar, azcentral, "Fun summer hikes in Arizona: These hidden little lakes attract wildlife, hikers and anglers," 5 July 2019 The cartoon refers to the image of Oscar Alberto MartÃnez and his 23-month-old daughter, Angie Valeria, lying face down in water surrounded by reeds. — Shannon Liao, CNN, "Canadian cartoonist loses job after illustration of Trump went viral," 30 June 2019 So, Veltman conceived an open-air structure that ingeniously comprised all of the above, tucked into one open-air space—topped with a dramatic roof by master thatcher Colin McGhee, who spent six weeks creating it with reeds imported from Turkey. — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, "A Delightfully Unique Poolhouse Designed for Hot Summers," 28 June 2019 But the music, played by an eight-person ensemble anchored by keyboards, guitar and drums and getting nautical accents from a trombone and reeds, begins to sound like wave after heavy wave crashing amidships. — Nelson Pressley, Washington Post, "The new musical ‘Blackbeard’ swashbuckles into rough waters," 27 June 2019 Ahead of joining The Queen and Members of @TheRoyalFamily at the #ChelseaFlowerShow on Monday evening, The Duchess was joined by local schoolchildren for some outdoor activities, including reed boat baking and marshmallow toasting. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kate Middleton's Culottes Create the Perfect Pre-Summer Look," 20 May 2019 Giethoorn, Netherlands The marshes surrounding Giethoorn were once important sources for harvesting peat moss and reeds, and its canal system was originally used to transport local farmers and their crops across town. — Caitlin Etherton, National Geographic, "Venice is flooded with tourists—visit these floating cities instead," 16 May 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The Heat could offer Reed its $4.3 mid-level room exception. — Manny Navarro, miamiherald, "Willie Reed tells Heat he’s opting out, testing free agency," 1 June 2017 SOMEWHERE ON the coastal road between the Sicilian towns of Marzamemi and Siracusa, from behind the wheel, our guide pointed out the giant reeds growing above the Ionian sea. — Charlotte Druckman, WSJ, "Sicily’s Superior Cannoli: A Guide for Connoisseurs—and Skeptics," 28 Jan. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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