reef

¹

[ reef ]

noun

1. a ridge of rocks or sand, often of coral debris, at or near the surface of the water.
2. Mining. a lode or vein.

reef

²

[ reef ]

noun

1. a part of a sail that is rolled and tied down to reduce the area exposed to the wind.

verb (used with object)

1. to shorten (sail) by tying in one or more reefs.
2. to reduce the length of (a topmast, a bowsprit, etc.), as by lowering, sliding inboard, or the like.
3. to pull (old oakum) out of seams, as with a rave hook (often followed by out ).

reef

¹

/ riːf /

noun

1. a ridge of rock, sand, coral, etc, the top of which lies close to the surface of the sea
2. a ridge- or mound-like structure built by sedentary calcareous organisms (esp corals) and consisting mainly of their remains
3. a vein of ore, esp one of gold-bearing quartz

reef

²

/ riːf /

noun

1. the part gathered in when sail area is reduced, as in a high wind

verb

1. to reduce the area of (sail) by taking in a reef
2. tr to shorten or bring inboard (a spar)

Reef

³

/ riːf /

noun

1. another name for the Great Barrier Reef
2. another name for the Witwatersrand

reef

/ rēf /

1. A strip or ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to or near the surface of a body of water.
2. See more at coral reef

Other Words From

• un·reefed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reef¹

1575–85; earlier riff ( e ) < Dutch rif

Origin of reef²

1350–1400; Middle English refe (noun) < Dutch reef

Word History and Origins

Origin of reef¹

C16: from Middle Dutch ref , from Old Norse rif rib ¹, reef ²

Origin of reef²

C14: from Middle Dutch rif ; related to Old Norse rif reef, rib ¹, German reffen to reef; see reef ¹

Example Sentences

The mega coral - which is a collection of many connected, tiny creatures that together form one organism rather than a reef - could be more than 300 years old.

From BBC

California moray eels live in coral reefs from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to southern Baja California in Mexico, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

From Los Angeles Times

It added that divers from the Samoan Ministry of Resources and Natural Environment had also "observed damage to the reef where the collision occurred".

From BBC

Military officials said rescuers "battled" currents and winds that pushed life rafts and sea boats towards the reefs, and swells made rescue efforts "challenging".

From BBC

Biot’s website boasts that it has the “greatest marine biodiversity in the UK and its Overseas Territories, as well as some of the cleanest seas and healthiest reef systems in the world”.

From BBC

Related Words

• atoll
• beach
• coral reef
• shoal