Definition of "reed" in English

noun

1. (countable) Any of various types of tall stiff perennial grass-like plants growing together in groups near water.

2. (countable) The hollow stem of these plants.

3. (countable, music) 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. (countable, music) Short for reed instrument.

5. (countable, weaving) A comb-like part of a beater for beating the weft when weaving.

   • Coordinate term: sley

6. (countable, historical) A piece of whalebone or similar for stiffening the skirt or waist of a woman's dress.

7. (uncountable, architecture) Reeding.

8. (mining) A tube containing the train of powder for igniting the charge in blasting.

9. Straw prepared for thatching a roof.

10. (poetic, obsolete) A missile weapon.

11. (archaic, metrology) A measuring rod.

verb

1. (transitive) To thatch.

2. To mill or mint with reeding.

verb

1. simple past and past participle of ree

noun

1. (UK, Scotland, dialect) The fourth stomach of a ruminant; rennet.