REEF Meaning of REEF in English n. 1 a ridge of rock or coral etc. at or near the surface of the sea. 2 a a lode of ore. b the bedrock surrounding this. [ earlier riff(e) f. MDu., MLG rif, ref, f. ON rif RIB ] Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012