reed

¹reed

noun \ˈrēd\

Definition of REED

1

a : any of various tall grasses with slender often prominently jointed stems that grow especially in wet areas b : a stem of a reed c : a person or thing too weak to rely on : one easily swayed or overcome

2

: a growth or mass of reeds; specifically : reeds for thatching

3

: arrow

4

: a wind instrument made from the hollow joint of a plant

5

: an ancient Hebrew unit of length equal to six cubits

6

a : a thin elastic tongue (as of cane, wood, metal, or plastic) fastened at one end over an air opening in a wind instrument (as a clarinet, organ pipe, or accordion) and set in vibration by an air current b : a woodwind instrument that produces sound by the vibrating of a reed against the mouthpiece <the reeds of an orchestra>

7

: a device on a loom resembling a comb and used to space warp yarns evenly

8

: reeding 1a

— reed·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of REED

1. the reeds along the edge of a pond
2. the reed section of the orchestra

Illustration of REED

Origin of REED

Middle English rede, from Old English hrēod; akin to Old High German hriot reed

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to REED

Synonyms: doormat, jellyfish, namby-pamby, pushover, weakling, wimp

Antonyms: stalwart

Related Words: coward, milquetoast, mouse, nebbish, nervous Nellie (or nervous Nelly), pussy [slang], wuss (also wussy); sheep

Near Antonyms: mensch

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with REED

bead, Bede, bleed, brede, breed, cede, creed, deed, feed, Gide, gleed, greed, heed, keyed, knead, kneed, lead, mead, Mead, Mede, meed, need, plead, read, rede, screed, seed, Snead, speed, steed, swede, treed, tweed, weed