1
: a part of a sail taken in or let out in regulating size
2
: reduction in sail area by reefing
reefed; reefing; reefs
1
: to reduce the area of (a sail) by rolling or folding a portion
2
: to lower or bring inboard (a spar) wholly or partially
: to reduce a sail by taking in a reef
1
a
: a chain of rocks or coral or a ridge of sand at or near the surface of water compare atoll, barrier reef
b
: a hazardous obstruction
Examples of reef in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 16 May 2024
Wakeman suspects he was attacked by Caribbean reef sharks.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024
In a matter of seconds, the 24-year-old Floridian was able to pull himself back up onto the boat -- but not before a Caribbean reef shark bit his leg.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 9 May 2024
Western Dry Rocks is an area of reefs and rocks 10 miles southwest of Key West.
—Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024
To top it off, the water shelters manta rays, sea turtles, and a live reef begging to be explored.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2023
Coral bleaching is already affecting many of the world's reefs.
—Melissa Locker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024
The park is known for its extensive Permian fossil reef and its high peaks.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024
Just last summer, reef rescue groups in South Florida and the Florida Keys were trying to save coral from rising ocean temperatures.
—David Fischer, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
The fourth global bleaching event is already the most widespread in any 365-day period, with 60 percent of reef areas subjected to bleaching-level heat stress.
—Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 16 May 2024
Wakeman suspects he was attacked by Caribbean reef sharks.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024
In a matter of seconds, the 24-year-old Floridian was able to pull himself back up onto the boat -- but not before a Caribbean reef shark bit his leg.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 9 May 2024
Western Dry Rocks is an area of reefs and rocks 10 miles southwest of Key West.
—Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024
To top it off, the water shelters manta rays, sea turtles, and a live reef begging to be explored.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2023
Coral bleaching is already affecting many of the world's reefs.
—Melissa Locker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024
The park is known for its extensive Permian fossil reef and its high peaks.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024
Just last summer, reef rescue groups in South Florida and the Florida Keys were trying to save coral from rising ocean temperatures.
—David Fischer, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reef.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near reef
Cite this Entry
“Reef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reef. Accessed 24 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reef
1 of 3 noun1
: a part of a sail taken in or let out in regulating size
2
: the reduction in sail area made by reefing
reef
2 of 3 verb
: to reduce the area of (a sail) by rolling or folding a portion
reef
3 of 3 noun
: a chain of rocks or coral or a ridge of sand at or near the surface of water
Etymology
Noun
Middle English riff "reef of a sail"; of Norse origin
Noun
from Dutch rif "reef of rocks or sand"; of Scandinavian origin
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