— reedlike , adj.
/reed/ , n.
1. the straight stalk of any of various tall grasses, esp. of the genera Phragmites and Arundo, growing in marshy places.
2. any of the plants themselves.
3. such stalks or plants collectively.
4. anything made from such a stalk or from something similar, as an arrow.
5. Music.
a. a pastoral or rustic musical pipe made from a reed or from the hollow stalk of some other plant.
b. a small, flexible piece of cane or metal that, attached to the mouth of any of various wind instruments, is set into vibration by a stream of air and, in turn, sets into vibration the air column enclosed in the tube of the instrument.
c. See reed instrument .
6. Textiles. the series of parallel strips of wires in a loom that force the weft up to the web and separate the threads of the warp.
7. an ancient unit of length, equal to 6 cubits. Ezek. 40:5.
8. a broken reed , a person or thing too frail or weak to be relied on for support: Under stress he showed himself to be a broken reed.
v.t.
9. to decorate with reed.
10. to thatch with or as if with reed.
11. to make vertical grooves on (the edge of a coin, medal, etc.).
[ bef. 900; ME; OE hreod; c. G, D riet ]