reading

¹ American  

[ree-ding] / ˈri dɪŋ /

noun

1. the action or practice of a person who reads.

2. Speech. the oral interpretation of written language.

3. the interpretation given in the performance of a dramatic part, musical composition, etc..

   an interesting reading of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.

4. the extent to which a person has read; literary knowledge.

   a man of wide reading.

5. matter read or for reading.

   a novel that makes good reading.

6. the form or version of a given passage in a particular text.

   the various readings of a line in Shakespeare.

7. an instance or occasion in which a text or other matter is read or performed, usually without elaborate preparation and often as a means of testing its merits.

   The playwright wants to have a reading of the play for prospective producers.

8. an interpretation given to anything.

   What is your reading of the situation?

9. the indication of a graduated instrument.

   The reading is 101.2°F.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or used for reading.

   reading glasses.

2. given to reading.

   the reading public.

Reading ² American  

[red-ing] / ˈrɛd ɪŋ /

noun

1. Rufus Daniel Isaacs, 1st Marquis of, 1860–1935, Lord Chief Justice of England 1913–21; viceroy of India 1921–26.

2. a city in Berkshire, in S England.

3. a city in SE Pennsylvania.

4. a town in E Massachusetts, near Boston.

5. a city in SW Ohio.

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reading ¹ British  

/ ˈriːdɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the act of a person who reads

   2. ( as modifier )

      a reading room

      a reading lamp

2. 1. ability to read

   2. ( as modifier )

      the reading public

      a child of reading age

3. any matter that can be read; written or printed text

4. a public recital or rendering of a literary work

5. the form of a particular word or passage in a given text, esp where more than one version exists

6. an interpretation, as of a piece of music, a situation, or something said or written

7. knowledge gained from books

   a person of little reading

8. a measurement indicated by a gauge, dial, scientific instrument, etc

9. parliamentary procedure

   1. the formal recital of the body or title of a bill in a legislative assembly in order to begin one of the stages of its passage

   2. one of the three stages in the passage of a bill through a legislative assembly See first reading second reading third reading

10. the formal recital of something written, esp a will

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Reading ² British  

/ ˈrɛdɪŋ /

noun

1. a town in S England, in Reading unitary authority, Berkshire, on the River Thames: university (1892). Pop: 232 662 (2001)

2. a unitary authority in S England, in Berkshire. Pop: 144 100 (2003 est). Area: 37 sq km (14 sq miles)

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Other Word Forms

• nonreading noun
• self-reading adjective

Etymology

Origin of reading

First recorded before 900; Middle English redyng (gerund), Old English rǣdinge; read ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The reading was in line with a consensus of analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal, and falls further below its long-term average of 100.

From The Wall Street Journal

I was thinking about this after reading about all the shenanigans Robert Redford and Paul Newman pulled on each other.

From Los Angeles Times

I never felt as if I wished I could be reading something else.

From Los Angeles Times

Irving is the writer who made me want to be a writer, and I have read and cherished his books since first reading this masterpiece as a young man.

From Los Angeles Times

The woman told the the court that she had been sitting in a window seat reading a book when Cristiano moved to seats to be beside her.

From BBC

Related Words

• account
• education
• examination
• knowledge
• learning
• lesson
• review
• study
• translation
• version