reed

¹

[ reed ]

noun

1. the straight stalk of any of various tall grasses, especially of the genera Phragmites and Arundo, growing in marshy places.
2. any of the plants themselves.
3. such stalks or plants collectively.
4. anything made from such a stalk or from something similar, as an arrow.
5. Music.
   1. a pastoral or rustic musical pipe made from a reed or from the hollow stalk of some other plant.
   2. a small, flexible piece of cane or metal that, attached to the mouth of any of various wind instruments, is set into vibration by a stream of air and, in turn, sets into vibration the air column enclosed in the tube of the instrument.
   3. reed instrument.
6. Textiles. the series of parallel strips of wires in a loom that force the weft up to the web and separate the threads of the warp.
7. an ancient unit of length, equal to 6 cubits. Ezekiel 40:5.

verb (used with object)

1. to decorate with reed.
2. to thatch with or as if with reed.
3. to make vertical grooves on (the edge of a coin, medal, etc.).

Reed

²

[ reed ]

noun

1. Sir Carol, 1906–76, British film director.
2. Ishmael (Scott), born 1938, U.S. novelist and poet.
3. John, 1887–1920, U.S. journalist and poet.
4. Stanley For·man [fawr, -m, uh, n], 1884–1980, U.S. jurist: associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1938–57.
5. Thomas Brackett, 1839–1902, U.S. politician: Speaker of the House 1889–91, 1895–99.
6. Walter C., 1851–1902, U.S. army surgeon who proved that a type of mosquito transmits the yellow fever virus.
7. a male given name, form of Read.

reed

¹

/ riːd /

noun

1. any of various widely distributed tall grasses of the genus Phragmites , esp P. communis , that grow in swamps and shallow water and have jointed hollow stalks
2. the stalk, or stalks collectively, of any of these plants, esp as used for thatching
3. music
   1. a thin piece of cane or metal inserted into the tubes of certain wind instruments, which sets in vibration the air column inside the tube
   2. a wind instrument or organ pipe that sounds by means of a reed
4. one of the several vertical parallel wires on a loom that may be moved upwards to separate the warp threads
5. a small semicircular architectural moulding See also reeding
6. an ancient Hebrew unit of length equal to six cubits
7. an archaic word for arrow
8. broken reed
   a weak, unreliable, or ineffectual person

verb

1. to fashion into or supply with reeds or reeding
2. to thatch using reeds

Reed

²

/ riːd /

noun

1. ReedSir Carol19061976MEnglishFILMS AND TV: director Sir Carol . 1906–76, English film director. His films include The Third Man (1949), An Outcast of the Islands (1951), and Oliver! (1968), for which he won an Oscar
2. ReedLou1942MUSMUSIC: rock singerMUSIC: songwriterMUSIC: guitarist Lou . born 1942, US rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist: member of the Velvet Underground (1965–70). His albums include Transformer (1972), Berlin (1973), Street Hassle (1978), New York (1989), Set the Twilight Reeling (1996), and The Raven (2003)
3. ReedWalter18511902MUSMEDICINE: physician Walter . 1851–1902, US physician, who proved that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes (1900)

Reed

/ rēd /

1. American physician and army surgeon who proved in 1900 that yellow fever was transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. His research led to the mosquito eradication programs carried out by William Gorgas that virtually eradicated yellow fever from Havana, Cuba, and from the Panama Canal Zone.

reed

1. A thin piece of wood or plastic used in many woodwind instruments. It vibrates when the player holds it in the mouth and blows over it (as with a single reed) or through it (as with a double reed). Clarinets and saxophones use a single reed; bassoons and oboes use a double reed.

Other Words From

• reed·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reed¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English reed, red, reod; Old English hrēod, hrēad; cognate with German Ried, Dutch riet

Word History and Origins

Origin of reed¹

Old English hreod ; related to Old Saxon hriod , Old High German hriot

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. a broken reed, a person or thing too frail or weak to be relied on for support:

   Under stress he showed himself to be a broken reed.

More idioms and phrases containing reed

see broken reed .

Example Sentences

And a big lecture from Grant’s murderous Mr. Reed about how they were exactly where they wanted to be.

From Los Angeles Times

The Individualized Honors Programs at Twain and Reed are among eight that have traditionally had their own application processes, and now fall under a new classification called Unique Education Pathways.

From Los Angeles Times

They enter this curious and claustrophobic home only when Mr. Reed promises his wife is baking a pie in the other room, but he draws them into his labyrinth using false promises and rhetorical exercises.

From Los Angeles Times

Steve Reed said within 70 days of winning the general election in July, he introduced new laws banning the payment of "unfair bonuses to polluting water bosses".

From BBC

Steve Reed, the secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs, confirmed the "vast majority" of farmers will not be affected by changes.

From BBC

Related Words

• fountain pen
• marker
• stick