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
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
The destruction in reef habitats have led fish stocks around Thitu to drop by more than two-thirds in numbers since 1993, according to the Philippines' Kalayaan municipal government, which oversees Thitu.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Visitors can download the app, which has about 10 different projects under one umbrella, from koala spotting to underwater reef observation.
—Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2024
So far, the researchers noted that heat stress does not appear even across the reef.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024
However, the study also revealed that resorts with poor management practices and more sedimentation and runoff can harm the reefs.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
The South China Sea is an artery that sees the passage of a third of global trade and its reefs and uninhabited archipelagoes have taken on deeper strategic significance in the shadow of China’s geopolitical rise.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
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
The destruction in reef habitats have led fish stocks around Thitu to drop by more than two-thirds in numbers since 1993, according to the Philippines' Kalayaan municipal government, which oversees Thitu.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Visitors can download the app, which has about 10 different projects under one umbrella, from koala spotting to underwater reef observation.
—Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2024
So far, the researchers noted that heat stress does not appear even across the reef.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024
However, the study also revealed that resorts with poor management practices and more sedimentation and runoff can harm the reefs.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
The South China Sea is an artery that sees the passage of a third of global trade and its reefs and uninhabited archipelagoes have taken on deeper strategic significance in the shadow of China’s geopolitical rise.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 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 1 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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