reader

noun

read·​er ˈrē-dər 

1

a

: one that reads

b

: one appointed to read to others: such as

(1)

: lector

(2)

: one chosen to read aloud selected material in a Christian Science church or society

c(1)

: proofreader

(2)

: one who evaluates manuscripts

(3)

: one who reads periodical literature to discover items of special interest or value

d

: an employee who reads and records the indications of meters

e

: a teacher's assistant who reads and marks student papers

2

British : one who reads lectures or expounds subjects to students

3

a

: a device for projecting a readable image of a transparency

b

: an electronic device that scans coded information (as on punch cards or bar codes) for storage or computation

4

a

: a book for instruction and practice especially in reading

b

: anthology

5

readers plural : eyeglasses used for reading or close work : reading glasses

Gilda came back with a pair of readers and, looking through her glasses, gave my eyelids serious consideration.

—Jeanne Ray

Synonyms

• album
• anthology
• collectanea
• compendium
• compilation
• florilegium
• miscellany

Examples of reader in a Sentence

The book's ending leaves readers to draw their own conclusions.

a magazine with three million readers

Recent Examples on the Web

Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. —Allison Mashell Mitchell / Made By History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024

In this engaging book, a professor of South Asian history invites readers to take a walk with him through Lahore, the city of his birth. —The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

This book—which tours readers through projects from Texas, mountain country, the Midwest, and more—is not just a study of the work Hunt has contributed to the field. —Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2024

Featured readers include Juan Carlos Reyes, Angela Garbes, Marcus Harrison Green, Jordynn Paz, Rena Priest, and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha. —Christine Clarridge, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing reader

• e-reader
• lay reader
• mind reader

Kids Definition

reader

noun

read·​er ˈrēd-ər 

1

: a person who reads

2

a

: a device that makes a readable image

a microfilm reader

b

: a machine for acquiring data (as for a computer)

a card reader

3

: a book for learning or practicing reading