reef

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a part of a sail taken in or let out in regulating size
2
: reduction in sail area by reefing

reef

2 of 3

verb

reefed; reefing; reefs

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to reduce a sail by taking in a reef
reefable adjective

reef

3 of 3

noun (2)

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
2
: lode, vein
reefy adjective

Examples of reef in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Thus, the urgency to conserve these reef shark populations has never been more apparent, necessitating a comprehensive and global approach to policy. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Fate of one small reef may hold the answer January 07, 2024 5:30 AM This report is just an initial look at how the youngest coral fragments on Florida’s reefs survived. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024 Due to natural geography, like reefs and bays, some beaches are calmer than others. USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024 In total, that’s more than two square miles, or 1,055 football fields of reefs. Louise Schiavone, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Potential maritime flashpoints That broad area reaches as far south as islands and reefs in the South China Sea, where Chinese and Philippine vessels have been in recent confrontations. Brad Lendon, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024 The reef extends more than 300 miles from Florida to South Carolina, marking the total area nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park. Pilar Arias, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2024 Deep reefs cover more of the ocean floor than tropical reefs. Christina Larson, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2024 Dianne Bennett had spent a lot of time walking along the reefs and knew the soundtrack well. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 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.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English riff, from Old Norse rif; probably akin to Old Norse rīfa to rend — more at rive

Noun (2)

Dutch rif, from Middle Dutch, from Old Norse, literally rib; akin to Old English ribb rib — more at rib

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1670, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of reef was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near reef

Cite this Entry

“Reef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reef. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reef

1 of 3 noun
1
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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