I. ˈrēd noun
Etymology: Middle English rede, from Old English hrēod; akin to Old High German hriot reed
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : any of various tall grasses with slender often prominently jointed stems that grow especially in wet areas
b. : a stem of a reed
c. : a person or thing too weak to rely on : one easily swayed or overcome
2. : a growth or mass of reeds ; specifically : reeds for thatching
3. : arrow
4. : a wind instrument made from the hollow joint of a plant
5. : an ancient Hebrew unit of length equal to six cubits
6.
a. : a thin elastic tongue (as of cane, wood, metal, or plastic) fastened at one end over an air opening in a wind instrument (as a clarinet, organ pipe, or accordion) and set in vibration by an air current
b. : a woodwind instrument that produces sound by the vibrating of a reed against the mouthpiece
the reed s of an orchestra
7. : a device on a loom resembling a comb and used to space warp yarns evenly
8. : reeding 1a
• reed·like -ˌlīk adjective
[
reed 6a
]
II. transitive verb
Date: 1951
: mill 2