reef
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Related to reef: billabong
reef 1
(rēf)n.
1. A strip or ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to or near the surface of a body of water.
2. A vein of ore.
3. Chiefly Western US A long craggy ridge or rocky escarpment.
[Obsolete Dutch rif, possibly from Old Norse, ridge.]
reef′y adj.
reef 2
(rēf) Nauticaln.
A portion of a sail gathered in and secured to lessen the area exposed to the wind.
tr.v. reefed, reef·ing, reefs
1. To reduce the size of (a sail) by gathering in a part and securing it, as by lashing it to a yard.
2. To shorten (a topmast or bowsprit) by taking part of it in.
[Partly from Middle English rif (from Old Norse rif, from rīfa, to rive) and partly from Dutch and Low German reef (Low German, from Dutch), back-formation from Dutch reven, pl. of rif, reef (of a sail), from or akin to Old Norse rif.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
reef
(riːf)n
1. (Geological Science) a ridge of rock, sand, coral, etc, the top of which lies close to the surface of the sea
2. (Geological Science) a ridge- or mound-like structure built by sedentary calcareous organisms (esp corals) and consisting mainly of their remains
3. (Mining & Quarrying) a vein of ore, esp one of gold-bearing quartz
[C16: from Middle Dutch ref, from Old Norse rif rib1, reef2]
reef
(riːf) nauticaln
(Nautical Terms) the part gathered in when sail area is reduced, as in a high wind
vb
1. (Nautical Terms) to reduce the area of (sail) by taking in a reef
2. (Nautical Terms) (tr) to shorten or bring inboard (a spar)
[C14: from Middle Dutch rif; related to Old Norse rif reef, rib1, German reffen to reef; see reef1]
Reef
(riːf)n
1. (Placename) another name for the Great Barrier Reef
2. (Placename) another name for the Witwatersrand
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
reef1
(rif)n.
1. a ridge of rocks or sand, often of coral debris, at or near the surface of the water.
2. Mining. a lode or vein.
[1575–85; earlier riff(e) < Dutch rif]
reef2
(rif)n.
1. a part of a sail that is rolled and tied down to reduce the area exposed to the wind.
v.t. 2. to shorten (a sail) by tying in one or more reefs.
3. to reduce the length of (a topmast, a bowsprit, etc.).
[1350–1400; Middle English refe (n.) < Dutch reef]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
reef
(rēf) An irregular mass of rock or coral that rises up to or near the surface of a body of water. See more at coral reef.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
reef
- From Old Norse rif, "rib."See also related terms for rib.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
reef
Past participle: reefed
Gerund: reefing
| Imperative |
|---|
| reef |
| reef |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
reef
A ridge of rocks or coral that is usually submerged in the sea.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  reef - a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the watercoral reef - a reef consisting of coral consolidated into limestone ridge - a long narrow natural elevation or striation |
| 2. | Reef - a rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese Transvaal - a province of northeastern South Africa originally inhabited by Africans who spoke Bantu; colonized by the Boers | |
| 3. | reef - one of several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to lessen the area of the sail that is exposed to the wind | |
| Verb | 1. | reef - lower and bring partially inboard; "reef the sailboat's mast" bring down, let down, lower, take down, get down - move something or somebody to a lower position; "take down the vase from the shelf" |
| 2. | reef - roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area | |
| 3. | reef - reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
reef
noun shoal, key, bar, shelf, spit, ridge, ledge, atoll, barrier reef An unspoilt coral reef encloses the bay.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
سِلْسِلَة صُخور فَوْق سَطْح الماء
rifútes
rev
rif
rifas
refować
čer
rev
resifsığ kayalık
reef
1 [riːf] N (Geog) → arrecife mreef
2 [riːf]A. N (= sail) → rizo m
to let out a reef → largar rizos (fig) → aflojar el cinturón
to take in a reef → tomar rizos (fig) → apretarse el cinturón
to let out a reef → largar rizos (fig) → aflojar el cinturón
to take in a reef → tomar rizos (fig) → apretarse el cinturón
B. VT → arrizar
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
reef
1 [riːf] n (Geog) → scogliera, banco di scoglicoral reef → barriera corallina
reef
2 [riːf] (Naut)2. vt → terzarolare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
reef
(riːf) noun a line of rocks etc just above or below the surface of the sea. The ship got stuck on a reef.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.