[read] vb read ; read.ing [ME reden to advise, interpret, read, fr. OE raedan; akin to OHG ratan to advise, Skt radhnoti he achieves, prepares] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a (1): to receive or take in the sense of (as letters or symbols) esp. by sight or touch (2): to study the movements of (as lips) with mental formulation of the communication expressed (3): to utter aloud the printed or written words of "~ them a story" b: to learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing c: to deliver aloud by or as if by reading; specif: to utter interpretively d (1): to become acquainted with or look over the contents of (as a book) (2): to make a study of "~ law" (3): to read the works of e: to check (as copy or proof) for errors f (1): to receive and understand (a voice message) by radio (2): understand, comprehend
2. a: to interpret the meaning or significance of "~ palms" b: foretell, predict "able to ~ his fortune"
3: to recognize or interpret as if by reading: as a: to learn the nature of by observing outward expression or signs "~s him like a book" b: to note the action or characteristics of in order to anticipate what will happen "a good canoeist ~s the rapids" "a golfer ~ing a green"; also: to predict the movement of (a putt) by reading a green c: to anticipate by observation of an opponent's position or movement "~ a blitz"
4. a: to attribute a meaning to (as something read): interpret "how do you ~ this passage" b: to attribute (a meaning) to something read or considered "~ a nonexistent meaning into her words"
5: to use as a substitute for or in preference to another word or phrase in a particular passage, text, or version "~ hurry for harry"--often used to introduce a clarifying substitute for a euphemistic or misleading word or phrase "a friendly, ~ nosy, coworker"
6: indicate "the thermometer ~s zero" 7: to interpret (a musical work) in performance
8. a: to acquire (information) from storage; esp: to sense the meaning of (data) in recorded and coded form--used of a computer or data processor b: to read the coded information on (as a floppy disk) ~ vi 1 a: to perform the act of reading words: read something b (1): to learn something by reading (2): to pursue a course of study
2. a: to yield a particular meaning or impression when read b: to be readable or read in a particular manner or to a particular degree "this book ~s smoothly"
3: to consist of specific words, phrases, or other similar elements "a passage that ~s differently in older versions" -- read between the lines : to understand more than is directly stated -- read the riot act 1: to order a mob to disperse
2. a: to order or warn to cease something b: to protest vehemently c: to reprimand severely
[2]read adj (1586): instructed by or informed through reading [3]read n (1825) 1 chiefly Brit: a period of reading "it was a night ... for a ~ and a long sleep --William Sansom"
2: something (as a book) that is read "a novel that's a good ~"
3: the action or an instance of reading