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

I stopped drinking hot chocolate after reading in a grocery-store tabloid that one shouldn’t drink their calories.

From Salon

Consensus estimate is for a 88 reading, about three points less than in February.

From Barron's

While job openings remain off their highs after the pandemic, low jobless claims readings have reinforced a low-hire, low-fire jobs environment.

From The Wall Street Journal

One day, while he was visiting friends, Harry and Caroline Guggenheim, Caroline mentioned an article she was reading about Goddard’s work.

From The Wall Street Journal

A closely watched home price index will release its first reading for 2026 on Tuesday.

From Barron's

Related Words

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