Main Entry:

¹read

Pronunciation:

\ˈrēd\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

read \ˈred\ ; read·ing \ˈrē-diŋ\

Etymology:

Middle English reden to advise, interpret, read, from Old English rǣdan; akin to Old High German rātan to advise, Sanskrit rādhnoti he achieves, prepares

Date:

before 12th century

transitive verb1 a (1): to receive or take in the sense of (as letters or symbols) especially by sight or touch (2): to study the movements of (as lips) with mental formulation of the communication expressed (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 (as a book) (2): to make a study of <read law> (3): to read the works of e: to check (as copy or proof) for errors f (1): to receive and understand (a voice message) by radio (2): understand, comprehend2 a: to interpret the meaning or significance of <read palms> b: foretell, predict <able to read his fortune>3: to recognize or interpret as if by reading: 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 (as 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 phrase <a friendly, read nosy, coworker>6: indicate <the thermometer reads zero>7: to interpret (a musical work) in performance8 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 b: to read the coded information on (as a floppy disk)intransitive verb1 a: to perform the act of reading words : read something b (1): to learn something by reading (2): to pursue a course of study2 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>

— read between the lines

: to understand more than is directly stated

— read the riot act

1: to order a mob to disperse2 a: to order or warn to cease something b: to protest vehemently c: to reprimand severely