READING

[noun] [U]Reading is the skill or activity of getting information from books.Reading and tennis are my favourite pastimes.The early years at school concentrate on the teaching of reading and writing.The diaries make good (bedtime) reading (= are good to read (in bed at night)).These books are compulsory/required reading for students of architecture.A reading is an occasion when something written, esp. a literary work, is spoken to an audience.Later in his life, the poet rarely gave readings of his work.The society often arranges poetry readings and musical evenings.In a parliament, a reading of a new law is one of the stages of discussion before it is approved.The Housing Bill was given its second reading in Parliament today.Your reading of something is the way in which you understand it.My reading of the situation is that John wanted any excuse to resign. [U]The usual reading of this passage stresses the hero's failure. [C]If you have a reading knowledge of a language, you can read it, but you can't speak it.I've got a good reading knowledge of Spanish.A reading list is list of books that esp. students are expected to read as part of their course.A reading room is a room, in a library, hotel or other building, which is for people who want to read quietly and where conversation is not usually allowed.