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definitions

Idioms

    read between the lines. line1(def 82).
    read for, (of an actor) to audition for (a role, a play, etc.).
    read lips, to study the lip movements of a speaker who cannot be heard so as to determine the words being uttered.
    read the green, Golf. green(def 33).
    read the riot act. Riot Act(def 2).

Origin of read

1
before 900; Middle English reden, Old English rǣdan to counsel, read; cognate with Dutch raden, German raten, Old Norse rātha; akin to Sanskrit rādhnoti (he) achieves

Synonyms for read

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR read ON THESAURUS.COM
1. peruse, scan, note, study.

read

2
[red]

adjective

having knowledge gained by reading (usually used in combination): a well-read person.

Origin of read

2
First recorded in 1580–90; past participle of read1

Read

[reed]

noun

George,1733–98, American political leader: served in the Continental Congress 1774–77.
Sir Herbert,1893–1968, English critic and poet.
a male given name: from an Old English word meaning “red.”
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for read

scan, study, gather, see, know, learn, translate, interpret, view, recite, show, explain, deliver, say, utter, announce, hold, display, speak, apprehend

Examples from the Web for read

Contemporary Examples of read

Historical Examples of read

  • "Here's a fine letter to read on a hot day," called Percival.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • I've always been taken with the chap; and I'm very glad you read him correctly.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • Sorcery reads backwards—and I saw him so read from that scroll of his.

    The Armourer's Prentices

    Charlotte M. Yonge

  • The feelings with which Robert read and his mother listened to this letter, were varied.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • Did you notice you could read every letter in the label on that ham?

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for read

read

1

verb reads, reading or read (rɛd)

to comprehend the meaning of (something written or printed) by looking at and interpreting the written or printed characters
to be occupied in such an activityhe was reading all day
(when tr , often foll by out) to look at, interpret, and speak aloud (something written or printed)he read to us from the Bible
(tr) to interpret the significance or meaning of through scrutiny and recognitionhe read the sky and predicted rain; to read a map
(tr) to interpret or understand the meaning of (signs, characters, etc) other than by visual meansto read Braille
(tr) to have sufficient knowledge of (a language) to understand the written or printed worddo you read German?
(tr) to discover or make out the true nature or mood ofto read someone's mind
to interpret or understand (something read) in a specified way, or (of something read) to convey a particular meaning or impressionI read this speech as satire; this book reads well
(tr) to adopt as a reading in a particular passagefor ``boon'' read ``bone''
(intr) to have or contain a certain form or wordingthe sentence reads as follows
to undertake a course of study in (a subject)to read history; read for the bar
to gain knowledge by readinghe read about the war
(tr) to register, indicate, or showthe meter reads 100
(tr) to bring or put into a specified condition by readingto read a child to sleep
(tr) to hear and understand, esp when using a two-way radiowe are reading you loud and clear
computing to obtain (data) from a storage device, such as magnetic tapeCompare write (def. 16)
(tr) to understand (written or printed music) by interpretation of the notes on the staff and to be able to reproduce the musical sounds represented by these notes
read a lesson or read a lecture informal to censure or reprimand, esp in a long-winded manner
read between the lines to perceive or deduce a meaning that is hidden or implied rather than being openly stated
you wouldn't read about it Australian informal an expression of dismay, disgust, or disbelief

noun

matter suitable for readingthis new book is a very good read
the act of reading
See also read in, read into, read out, read up

Word Origin for read

Old English rǣdan to advise, explain; related to Old Frisian rēda, Old High German rātan, Gothic garēdan

read

2

verb

the past tense and past participle of read 1

adjective

having knowledge gained from books (esp in the phrases widely read, well-read)
take something as read to take something for granted as a fact; understand or presume
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for read
v.

Old English rædan (West Saxon), redan (Anglian) "to advise, counsel, persuade; discuss, deliberate; rule, guide; arrange, equip; forebode; read, explain; learn by reading; put in order" (related to ræd, red "advice"), from Proto-Germanic *raedanan (cf. Old Norse raða, Old Frisian reda, Dutch raden, Old High German ratan, German raten "to advise, counsel, guess"), from PIE root *re(i)- "to reason, count" (cf. Sanskrit radh- "to succeed, accomplish," Greek arithmos "number amount," Old Church Slavonic raditi "to take thought, attend to," Old Irish im-radim "to deliberate, consider"). Words from this root in most modern Germanic languages still mean "counsel, advise."

Sense of "make out the character of (a person)" is attested from 1610s. Connected to riddle via notion of "interpret." Transference to "understand the meaning of written symbols" is unique to Old English and (perhaps under English influence) Old Norse raða. Most languages use a word rooted in the idea of "gather up" as their word for "read" (cf. French lire, from Latin legere). Read up "study" is from 1842; read out (v.) "expel by proclamation" (Society of Friends) is from 1788. read-only in computer jargon is recorded from 1961.

n.

"an act of reading," 1825, from read (v.).

adj.

1580s, "having knowledge gained from reading," in well-read, etc., past participle adjective from read (v.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with read

read

In addition to the idioms beginning with read

  • read a lecture
  • read between the lines
  • read into
  • read like an open book
  • read out of
  • read someone's mind
  • read the riot act
  • read up

also see:

  • do you read me
  • open book, read like an
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.