: a wind instrument made from the hollow joint of a plant
5
: an ancient Hebrew unit of length equal to six cubits
6
a
: a thin elastic tongue (as of cane, wood, metal, or plastic) fastened at one end over an air opening in a wind instrument (such as a clarinet, organ pipe, or accordion) and set in vibration by an air current
b
: a woodwind instrument that produces sound by the vibrating of a reed against the mouthpiece
the reeds of an orchestra
7
: a device on a loom resembling a comb and used to space warp yarns evenly
Noun
the reeds along the edge of a pond
the reed section of the orchestra
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Past The mysterious origins of Peru’s oldest indigenous people
The Uros of Lake Titicaca live on floating islands made from reeds.—Big Think, 24 June 2024 Schenke disassembled a harmonica for observers, describing the simple mechanisms that produce the instrument’s distinct sound: the comb and reed plates that remain hidden within the harmonica.—Hg Biggs, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2024
Verb
Their monthly candle and reed diffuser subscription is sure to make any candle-lover swoon.—Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 11 Nov. 2022 Crest's ultra-popular teeth whitening kits are on sale too, plus anti-aging face serums from SkinMedica, reed diffusers from Nest, and R+Co’s cult-favorite hair products.—Sarah Madaus, SELF, 11 Oct. 2022 See all Example Sentences for reed
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reed.' 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
Middle English rede, from Old English hrēod; akin to Old High German hriot reed
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
: any of various tall slender grasses of wet areas that have stems with large joints
b
: a stem of such a grass
c
: a growth or mass of reeds
2
: a musical instrument made of the hollow joint of a plant
3
: a thin flexible strip (as of cane, wood, metal, or plastic) fastened at one end to the mouthpiece of a musical instrument (as a clarinet) or over an air opening (as in an accordion) and set in vibration by an air current (as the breath)
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