reef
/ɹiːf/ verb C2- To take in part of a sail in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind.
- To move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply. · Reef the paddles.
- To manipulate the lining of a person's pocket in order to steal the contents unnoticed.
He/she/it reefs · Past reefed · Past participle reefed · -ing form reefing
Verb forms
- Base form
- reef
- He/she/it
- reefs
- Past
- reefed
- Past participle
- reefed
- -ing form
- reefing
From the library
‘Take in two reefs in the top-sails,’ cried the captain; ‘let go the bowlin’s, haul the brace, lower the top-gallant sails, haul out the reef-tackles on the yards.’”
We are going to the Great Barrier Reef.
Snorkeling on the reef is an amazing experience.
It accidentally struck a reef in 1946, but thankfully the entire crew survived.
Other matches
Learn reef in real texts
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