n.1 a the act or an instance of reading or perusing (the reading of the will). b matter to be read (have plenty of reading with me). c the specified quality of this (it made exciting reading).
2 (in comb.) used for reading (reading-lamp; reading-room).
3 literary knowledge (a person of wide reading).
4 an entertainment at which a play, poems, etc., are read (poetry reading).
5 a figure etc. shown by a meter or other recording instrument.
6 an interpretation or view taken (what is your reading of the facts?).
7 an interpretation made (of drama, music, etc.).
8 each of the successive occasions on which a bill must be presented to a legislature for acceptance (see also first reading, second reading, third reading).
9 the version of a text, or the particular wording, conjectured or given by an editor etc.
Phrases and idioms:
reading age reading ability expressed as the age for which the same ability is calculated as average (has a reading age of eight).
Etymology: OE (as READ)