HOW TO PRONOUNCE
reef
/ɹif/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does reef mean?
noun
- A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water.
- A large vein of auriferous quartz; hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore.
- A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed in a high wind.
More meanings (9)
noun
- A reef knot.
- The itch; any eruptive skin disorder.
- Dandruff.
verb
- To take in part of a sail in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind.
- To pull or yank strongly, especially in relation to horse riding.
- To move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.
- (slang) To manipulate the lining of a person's pocket in order to steal the contents unnoticed.
adjective
- Scabby; scurvy.
proper noun
- A surname from German.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ɹif/
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
To the N.E. two volcanic islands emerged of unequal size, surrounded by a coral reef that measured forty miles in circumference.
New life within the arbours of your fief Awakes the blossom, quivers in the leaf, And splendour flames upon the coral reef.
More book examples (3)
This sail belonged to us altogether, to reef and to furl, and not a man was allowed to come upon our yard.
While I was doing this I left the boat moored to an inward projection of the reef, for fear of the Beast People.
A section of the reef and island in this state, after a subsidence of several hundred feet, is given by the dotted lines.