Lexic.us

Definition of Reef

1. Verb. Lower and bring partially inboard. "Reef the sailboat's mast"

2. Noun. A submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water.

3. Verb. Roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area.

4. Noun. A rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese.

5. Verb. Reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef.

6. Noun. One of several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to lessen the area of the sail that is exposed to the wind.

Definition of Reef

1. n. A chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water. See Coral reefs, under Coral.

2. n. That part of a sail which is taken in or let out by means of the reef points, in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind.

3. v. t. To reduce the extent of (as a sail) by roiling or folding a certain portion of it and making it fast to the yard or spar.

Definition of Reef

1. Adjective. Scabby; scurvy. ¹

2. Noun. (context: Now chiefly dialectal) The itch; any eruptive skin disorder. ¹

3. Noun. (context: Now chiefly dialectal) Dandruff. ¹

4. Noun. A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water. ¹

5. Noun. (context: Australia South Africa) A large vein of auriferous quartz; hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore. ¹

6. Noun. (nautical) A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed in a high wind. ¹

7. Noun. A reef knot. ¹

8. Verb. (nautical) To take in part of a sail in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind. ¹

9. Verb. (Australian) To pull or yank strongly. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Reef

1. to reduce the area of a sail [v -ED, -ING, -S] : REEFABLE [adj]

Medical Definition of Reef

1. 1. A chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water. See Coral reefs, under Coral. 2. A large vein of auriferous quartz; so called in Australia. Hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore. Reef builder, any heron of the genus Demigretta; as, the blue reef heron (D.jugularis) of Australia. Origin: Akin to D. Rif, G. Riff, Icel. Rif, Dan. Rev; cf. Icel. Rifa rift, rent, fissure, rifa to rive, bear. Cf. Rift, Rive. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Reef

reeds reedstop reedstops reeducate reeducated reeducates reeducating reeducation reeducations reeducative

reeducator reeducators reedwork reedy reedy nail reef (current term) reef-band reef-bands reef break reef knot

reef knots reef point reef rashes reef squirrelfish reef triggerfish reef whitetip shark reefable reefal reefed

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