1
a(1)
: to receive or take in the sense of (letters, symbols, etc.) especially by sight or touch
(2)
: to study the movements of with mental formulation of the communication expressed
read lips
(3)
: to utter aloud the printed or written words of
read them a story
b
: to learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing
c
: to deliver aloud by or as if by reading
specifically
: to utter interpretively
d(1)
: to become acquainted with or look over the contents of (something, such as a book)
(2)
: to make a study of
read law
(3)
: to read the works of
e
: to check (something, such as copy or proof) for errors
f(1)
: to receive and understand (a voice message) by radio
(2)
2
3
: to recognize or interpret as if by reading: such as
a
: to learn the nature of by observing outward expression or signs
reads him like a book
b
: to note the action or characteristics of in order to anticipate what will happen
a good canoeist reads the rapids
a golfer reading a green
also
: to predict the movement of (a putt) by reading a green
c
: to anticipate by observation of an opponent's position or movement
read a blitz
4
a
: to attribute a meaning to (something read) : interpret
how do you read this passage
b
: to attribute (a meaning) to something read or considered
read a nonexistent meaning into her words
5
: to use as a substitute for or in preference to another word or phrase in a particular passage, text, or version
read hurry for harry
—often used to introduce a clarifying substitute for a euphemistic or misleading word or phrasea friendly, read nosy, coworker
6
: indicate
the thermometer reads zero
7
: to interpret (a musical work) in performance
8
a
: to acquire (information) from storage
especially
: to sense the meaning of (data) in recorded and coded form
—used of a computer or data processor
A compiler is a program that translates instructions written by a human programmer into more specific codes that can be directly read by a computer. —John Markoff
b
: to read the coded information on (something, such as a CD)
I had a minor problem with the disk drive in that the machine would not read the disk the first time it was powered up each day but had to be turned off and back on again.—Robert Moskowitz
1
a
: to perform the act of reading words : read something
b(1)
: to learn something by reading
(2)
: to pursue a course of study
2
a
: to yield a particular meaning or impression when read
b
: to be readable or read in a particular manner or to a particular degree
this book reads smoothly
3
: to consist of specific words, phrases, or other similar elements
a passage that reads differently in older versions
1
chiefly British
: a period of reading
it was a night … for a read and a long sleep—William Sansom
2
: something (such as a book) that is read
a novel that's a good read
3
: the action or an instance of reading
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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