reader

[ ree-der ]

noun

1. a person who reads.
2. a schoolbook for instruction and practice in reading.

   a second-grade reader.

3. a book of collected or assorted writings, especially when related in theme, authorship, or instructive purpose; anthology:

   a Hemingway reader; a sci-fi reader.

4. a person employed to read and evaluate manuscripts offered for publication.
5. a proofreader.
6. a person who reads or recites before an audience; elocutionist.
7. a person authorized to read the lessons, Bible, etc., in a church service.
8. a lecturer or instructor, especially in some British universities:

   to be appointed reader in English history.

9. an assistant to a professor, who grades examinations, papers, etc.
10. Computers. a device that reads data, programs, or control information from an external storage medium for transmission to main storage. Compare optical character reader.
11. a machine or device that projects or enlarges a microform image on a screen or other surface for reading.
12. a playing card marked on its back so that the suit or denomination of the card can be identified.
13. Library Science. the user of a library; library patron.

reader

/ ˈriːdə /

noun

1. a person who reads
2. a person who is fond of reading
3. 1. at a university, a member of staff having a position between that of a senior lecturer and a professor
   2. a teaching assistant in a faculty who grades papers, examinations, etc, on behalf of a professor
4. 1. a book that is part of a planned series for those learning to read
   2. a standard textbook, esp for foreign-language learning
5. a person who reads aloud in public
6. a person who reads and assesses the merit of manuscripts submitted to a publisher
7. a person employed to read proofs and indicate errors by comparison with the original copy; proofreader
8. short for lay reader
9. Judaism another word for cantor

Other Words From

• non·reader noun
• sub·reader noun
• under·reader noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reader¹

before 1000; Middle English reder ( e ), redar ( e ), Old English rǣdere. See read ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

“The pages said ‘license plate reader’ with an arrow pointing up,” Freeman said.

From Los Angeles Times

Unless it’s used in a criminal investigation, information captured by a license plate reader is not stored with any personally identifiable information, said Sgt.

From Los Angeles Times

Grace Hodgett Young, wearing sneakers and long sweat socks, plays Betty Schaefer, the bright studio script reader who tries to revive Joe’s passion, first as a writer and then as man.

From Los Angeles Times

He also cites the price of assistive technology, such as read and write software and exam reader pens, which cost hundreds of pounds each.

From BBC

“I really believe there’s something of who the coach is as a person when he thinks about the tactics that he wants to use for the team,” said Sartini, a voracious reader and student who is fluent in three languages.

From Los Angeles Times