reed
riːd
Definition Synonyms Conjugation

Definition of reed - Reverso English Dictionary

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Noun

1.
plantstall, slender-leaved plant of wet areas
  • The marsh was dotted with reeds swaying in the breeze..
bulrush cane
2.
musicTECH.thin piece in woodwind instruments that vibratesTECH.
  • The clarinet's sound depends on a good reed.
mouthpiece tongue vibrator

Verb

1.
musicintr.TECH.play a wind instrument using a small vibrating tongueintr.TECH.
  • She reeded beautifully at the concert..
perform play sound
2.
thatchingtr.RareUKcover a roof with reedstr.RareUK
  • They decided to reed the cottage roof.
roof thatch
3.
decoratingtr.TECH.add reeding to a surfacetr.TECH.
  • The craftsman reeded the edges of the table.
flute groove
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Images of reed

  • reed: tall, slender-leaved plant of wet areas
    tall, slender-leaved plant of wet areas
  • reed: thin piece in woodwind instruments that vibrates
    thin piece in woodwind instruments that vibrates
  • reed: comb-like part in weaving looms
    comb-like part in weaving looms
  • reed: small semicircular architectural moulding
    small semicircular architectural moulding

Expressions with reed

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person or thing that is unreliable
He turned out to be a broken reed in crisis.
thin, tall plant found in wetlands
The bird perched on a slender reed by the water.
someone easily influenced or swayed
He changes his opinion often, like a reed in the wind.
adapt easily to difficult situations
In tough times, she could bend like a reed and find solutions.
be extremely nervous or scared
She would shake like a reed before every performance.
thin, empty tube of plant material
The bird built its nest using a hollow reed.

Origin of reed

Old English, hreod (reed)

Terms with reed included in their meaning

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music
woodwind instrument with a single-reed mouthpiece
plants
strong slender stem like bamboo or reed
music
wind instrument with a single reed and keys
music
musical instrument with reed pipes and a bag
music
woodwind instrument with a double reed
medical
cancer of the lymphatic system with Reed-Sternberg cells
wind section
woodwind instrument with a double reed
stage performer
orchestra musician who plays a double-reed woodwind instrument

Examples of reed in a sentence

  • The fisherman hid behind the reeds.
  • She replaced the reed for a clearer sound.
  • A cracked reed can ruin a performance.
  • The reed needs regular maintenance for smooth weaving.
  • Adjusting the reed can change the fabric's texture.
  • The antique vase was adorned with a delicate reed design.

View all translations of reed

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:roseau, jouer de l'anche, ...
  2. German:Schilfrohr, auf einem Rohrblattinstrument spielen, ...
  3. Italian:giunco, suonare uno strumento ad ancia, ...
  4. Spanish:caña, tocar un instrumento de lengüeta, ...
  5. Portuguese:caniço, tocou um instrumento de palheta, ...
  6. Chinese:芦苇, 吹奏簧片乐器, ...
  7. Japanese:葦, リード楽器を吹く, ...
  8. Arabic:قَصَب, عَزَفَ على آلة نَفْخِيَّة ذات ريشة, ...
  9. Hebrew:קָנֶה, לְנַגֵּן בִּכְלֵי נְשִׁיפָה עִם עָלֶה קוֹל רוֹטֵט, ...
  10. Russian:тростник, играть на тростниковом инструменте, ...
  11. Ukrainian:очерет, грати на язичковому інструменті, ...
  12. Hindi:सरकंडा, बांसुरी बजाना, ...
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