reef

¹ American  

[reef] / rif /

noun

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.

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reef ² American  

[reef] / rif /

noun

1. a part of a sail that is rolled and tied down to reduce the area exposed to the wind.

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verb (used with object)

1. to shorten (sail) by tying in one or more reefs.

2. to reduce the length of (a topmast, a bowsprit, etc.), as by lowering, sliding inboard, or the like.

3. to pull (old oakum) out of seams, as with a rave hook (often followed byout ).

reef ¹ British  

/ riːf /

noun

1. the part gathered in when sail area is reduced, as in a high wind

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verb

1. to reduce the area of (sail) by taking in a reef

2. (tr) to shorten or bring inboard (a spar)

reef ² British  

/ riːf /

noun

1. a ridge of rock, sand, coral, etc, the top of which lies close to the surface of the sea

2. a ridge- or mound-like structure built by sedentary calcareous organisms (esp corals) and consisting mainly of their remains

3. a vein of ore, esp one of gold-bearing quartz

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Reef ³ British  

/ riːf /

noun

1. another name for the Great Barrier Reef

2. another name for the Witwatersrand

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reef Scientific  

/ rēf /

1. A strip or ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to or near the surface of a body of water.

2. See more at coral reef

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Other Word Forms

• unreefed adjective

Etymology

Origin of reef¹

1575–85; earlier riff ( e ) < Dutch rif

Origin of reef²

1350–1400; Middle English refe (noun) < Dutch reef

Example Sentences

As the planet recovered, coral reefs gradually returned, creating new shallow-water ecosystems.

From Science Daily

The studies, however, "largely showed minimal impacts on coral reefs", said John Burt, biology professor at the Mubadala Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences at New York University Abu Dhabi.

From Barron's

Instead of damaging the coral reefs, these mohawked creatures end up on a plate later that day in ceviche or sashimi form.

From Salon

It originated from what scientists consider Australia's first 'Great Barrier Reef,' a Devonian era reef system located in the Kimberley region of northern WA.

From Science Daily

Martindale and her research team, including Stéphane Bodin of Aarhus University, were exploring the rugged valley to study the ecology of ancient reef systems that once existed there when the area lay beneath the ocean.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• atoll
• beach
• coral reef
• shoal