read ‧ ing W2 /ˈriːdɪŋ/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ read , ↑ reader , ↑ readership , ↑ reading , ↑ readability ; verb : ↑ read ; adjective : ↑ readable ≠ ↑ unreadable ]
1 . ACTIVITY/SKILL [uncountable] the activity or skill of understanding written words:
She loves reading.
Reading is taught using a combination of several methods.
2 . BOOKS [uncountable] books and other things that you can read:
Her main reading seems to be mystery novels.
a bit of light reading (=things that are easy and enjoyable to read) for my holiday
There’s a list of further reading (=other things you can read) at the end of each chapter.
a supply of interesting reading material
3 . ACT OF READING [singular] when you read something:
The book is quite difficult on first reading.
a close reading of the text (=when you read it very carefully)
4 . UNDERSTANDING [countable] your way of understanding what a particular statement, situation, event etc means SYN interpretation
reading of
What’s your reading of the government’s response to this crisis?
5 . TO A GROUP [countable]
a) an occasion when a piece of literature is read to a group of people:
a poetry reading at the bookstore
b) a piece of writing, especially from the Bible, that is read to a group of people:
The first reading is from Corinthians I, Chapter 3.
6 . make (for) interesting/fascinating/compelling etc reading to be interesting etc to read:
Your report made fascinating reading.
7 . MEASUREMENT [countable] a number or amount shown on a measuring instrument:
We take temperature readings every two hours.
8 . IN PARLIAMENT [countable] one of the occasions in the British Parliament or the US Congress when a suggested new law is discussed:
the second reading of the Industrial Relations Bill