Illustration of reed
- reed 6a
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 (such 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
Synonyms
Examples of reed in a Sentence
Noun
the reeds along the edge of a pond
the reed section of the orchestra
Recent Examples on the Web
Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023
The park was another new one: Before the riverbed was cleaned and its banks strengthened, this place was neglected, overgrown with reeds.
—Haiane Avakian, The Atlantic, 27 Sep. 2023
Later brooms sometimes used willow branches, reeds, flax or other materials gathered into a bundle and tied to a stick.
—Kate Morgan, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
This candle is available in two sizes and the scent is also available as a reed diffuser and room and linen spray.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
Play/Pause Volume Embed Read by the translator. remains unwashed, and the waves
sleep;
reeds bend in no wind
like drunks.
—Taras Shevchenko, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
Javed makes a butterfly net out of a stick, a loop of reed and some of the thick cobwebs gathered from the house’s eaves.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 7 Oct. 2023
Hot tip: if the scent starts to fade,just flip the reeds upside down.
—Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2023
Or, Armenian music featuring the duduk (a reed instrument, like an oboe), played at weddings and festivals.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023
Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 11 Nov. 2022
Crest's ultra-popular teeth whitening kits are on sale too, plus anti-aging face serums from SkinMedica, reed diffusers from Nest, and R+Co’s cult-favorite hair products.
—Sarah Madaus, SELF, 11 Oct. 2022
The Real Housewives of Potomac star, professor and philanthropist launched Onyi Home Essentials on Monday — a collection of candles, reed diffusers and room sprays designed to bring a little luxury to the everyday.
—Megan Stein, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2022
Drummer Ryan Bennett, Milwaukee bassist Jeff Hamann and reed player Jesse Montijo rounded out the sympathetic band.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022
Drinking water is from the desalination plant, rainwater is collected, and wastewater is cleaned via a series of aerobic, non-aerobic, UV, pond, and reed bed systems.
—Johanna Read, Forbes, 20 June 2022
The keyboard has reed switches, which use magnets to actuate.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 3 Dec. 2021
Thorne was 22 of 31 for 287 yards with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Montorie Foster and a 29-yard pass to Jayden reed for a score in the first quarter.
—Raul Dominguez, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Nov. 2021
Lisa starts berating Chris, who appears on the verge of passing out from the one-two punch of wearing a three-piece suit under hot lights and huffing that box-fresh vanilla reed diffuser straight from the source.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2021
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Noun
On that day of many moods, Lake Titicaca’s pellucid waters were shades of silver, slate, blue and charcoal and edged with reeds.
—Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023
The park was another new one: Before the riverbed was cleaned and its banks strengthened, this place was neglected, overgrown with reeds.
—Haiane Avakian, The Atlantic, 27 Sep. 2023
Later brooms sometimes used willow branches, reeds, flax or other materials gathered into a bundle and tied to a stick.
—Kate Morgan, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
This candle is available in two sizes and the scent is also available as a reed diffuser and room and linen spray.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
Play/Pause Volume Embed Read by the translator. remains unwashed, and the waves
sleep;
reeds bend in no wind
like drunks.
—Taras Shevchenko, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
Javed makes a butterfly net out of a stick, a loop of reed and some of the thick cobwebs gathered from the house’s eaves.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 7 Oct. 2023
Hot tip: if the scent starts to fade,just flip the reeds upside down.
—Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2023
Or, Armenian music featuring the duduk (a reed instrument, like an oboe), played at weddings and festivals.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023
Verb
Their monthly candle and reed diffuser subscription is sure to make any candle-lover swoon.
—Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 11 Nov. 2022
Crest's ultra-popular teeth whitening kits are on sale too, plus anti-aging face serums from SkinMedica, reed diffusers from Nest, and R+Co’s cult-favorite hair products.
—Sarah Madaus, SELF, 11 Oct. 2022
The Real Housewives of Potomac star, professor and philanthropist launched Onyi Home Essentials on Monday — a collection of candles, reed diffusers and room sprays designed to bring a little luxury to the everyday.
—Megan Stein, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2022
Drummer Ryan Bennett, Milwaukee bassist Jeff Hamann and reed player Jesse Montijo rounded out the sympathetic band.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022
Drinking water is from the desalination plant, rainwater is collected, and wastewater is cleaned via a series of aerobic, non-aerobic, UV, pond, and reed bed systems.
—Johanna Read, Forbes, 20 June 2022
The keyboard has reed switches, which use magnets to actuate.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 3 Dec. 2021
Thorne was 22 of 31 for 287 yards with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Montorie Foster and a 29-yard pass to Jayden reed for a score in the first quarter.
—Raul Dominguez, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Nov. 2021
Lisa starts berating Chris, who appears on the verge of passing out from the one-two punch of wearing a three-piece suit under hot lights and huffing that box-fresh vanilla reed diffuser straight from the source.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing reed
Dictionary Entries Near reed
Cite this Entry
“Reed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reed. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
reed
nounˈrēd
1
a
: any of various tall slender grasses of wet areas that have stems with large joints
b
: a stem of such a grass
c
: a growth or mass of reeds
2
: a musical instrument made of the hollow joint of a plant
3
: a thin flexible strip (as of cane, wood, metal, or plastic) fastened at one end to the mouthpiece of a musical instrument (as a clarinet) or over an air opening (as in an accordion) and set in vibration by an air current (as the breath)
Biographical Definition
Reed
2 of 4biographical name (2)
Stanley Forman 1884–1980 American jurist
Reed
3 of 4biographical name (3)
Thomas Brackett 1839–1902 American politician
Reed
4 of 4biographical name (4)
Walter 1851–1902 American army surgeon
More from Merriam-Webster on reed
Nglish: Translation of reed for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of reed for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reed
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