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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

rein

/ɹeɪn/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does rein mean?

noun

  1. A strap or rope attached to a bridle or bit, used to control a horse, other animal or young child.
  2. (figuratively) An instrument or means of curbing, restraining, or governing.

verb

  1. To direct or stop a horse by using reins.
More meanings (6)

verb

  1. To restrain; to control; to check.
  2. To obey directions given with the reins.

noun

  1. The inward impulses; the affections and passions, formerly supposed to be located in the area of the kidneys.
  2. Acronym of repetitive electrical impulse noise.
  3. (archaic) A kidney.

proper noun

  1. A surname from German.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ɹeɪn/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Nicholas gave the horses the rein, and Zakhár, stretching out his arms, clucked his tongue and let his horses go.
Leo, graf TolstoyWar and PeaceTranslated by Aylmer Maude; Louise MaudeProject Gutenberg ebook #2600
Then Ralph shook his rein, and rode out of the abbey-gate, smiling at the lay-brethren and the men-at-arms who hung about there.
William MorrisThe Well at the World's End: A TaleProject Gutenberg ebook #169
More book examples (3)
He had leisure to give free rein to these musings, for it was ten past seven before Roger appeared, hurrying toward the subway.
Christopher MorleyThe Haunted BookshopProject Gutenberg ebook #172
I slashed the horse with the whip, and gave him a loose rein until Woking and Send lay between us and that quivering tumult.
H. G. (Herbert George) WellsThe war of the worldsProject Gutenberg ebook #36
The drive was not a long one—less than an hour, sometimes, when the bays were very fresh, and Sir Percy gave them full rein.
Emmuska Orczy, Baroness OrczyThe Scarlet PimpernelProject Gutenberg ebook #60