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

reef

³

/ 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

/ 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

Divers exploring an underwater portion of the lake’s K’akaya reef found a ritual offering deposited by the Inca, say archaeologists Christophe Delaere of the University of Oxford and José Capriles of Penn State.

From Science News

They’re also planting tiny bits of coral in new places, trying to help new reefs get a good start.

From Science News For Students

Scientists are working to figure out how to help bleached corals and plant new coral reefs.

From Science News For Students

Coral reefs provide spots of brilliant color under the waves.

From Science News For Students

A bleached reef can spell trouble for the many species that call it home.

From Science News For Students

I was out, maybe in the Great Barrier Reef catching black marlin.

From The Daily Beast

And this in turn affects the fish, whales, dolphins, turtles, dugongs and seabirds that live within the Reef.

From The Daily Beast

The Reef has lost more than half its coral cover since 1985, with two-thirds of the loss occurring after 1998.

From The Daily Beast

The 7,000-ton freighter is still stocked with sake bottles and four fighter planes, and it is encircled by gray reef.

From The Daily Beast

It also takes place near a minefield of rocks, is a hangout spot for sharks, and breaks on a reef.

From The Daily Beast

The few birds that frequented the reef were very shy, and flew away at our approach: they were principally pelicans and terns.

From Project Gutenberg

REEF k, in latitude 14 degrees 47 minutes, has a dry sand upon it: its sub-marine extent was not ascertained.

From Project Gutenberg

All the islands are low and wooded, and surrounded by a coral reef of small extent.

From Project Gutenberg

The Mermaid was nearly lost in attempting to cross the latter reef.

From Project Gutenberg

A considerable reef projects off the east end for more than a mile.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• atoll
• beach
• coral reef
• shoal