Reed

Pronunciation

• rÄ“d, /riːd/, /ri:d/
• Rhymes: -iːd

Middle English rede, Old English hrēod. Akin to German Ried. No cognates in North Germanic languages, but a Gothic was derived

The supposition about Gothic and the quote from Noctes Atticae in : "dixit ... amicus meus in libro se Gavi de origine vocabulorum VII legisse "retas" vocari arbores, quae aut ripis fluminum eminerent aut in alveis eorum exstarent"

. It is theorised that the word may have a relation to ritae in (Aulus Gellius).

Full definition of reed

Noun

1. (botany, countable) Any of various types of tall stiff perennial grass-like plants growing together in groups near water.
2. (countable, botany) The hollow stem of these plants.
3. (countable, music) Part of the mouthpiece of certain woodwind instruments, comprising of a thin piece of wood or metal which shakes very quickly to produce sound when a musician blows over it.
4. (countable, music) A musical instrument such as the clarinet or oboe, which produces sound when a musician blows on the reed.
5. (countable, weaving) A comb-like tool for beating the weft when weaving.
6. (uncountable, architecture) reeding
7. (mining) A tube containing the train of powder for igniting the charge in blasting.
8. straw prepared for thatching a roof

Derived terms

• reed bunting
• reed organ
• reedy

Verb

1. To mill or mint with reeding.

See ree

Verb

1. reed

   (past of ree)

Alternative forms

• read

Noun

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

Anagrams

• deer
• dere, de re
• dree
• rede