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

The toll readers have a lower administrative cost than payment through a license plate account or returning a payment with an invoice through the mail. —Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024

Book readers will remember these figures played an essential role in another battle at the Ministry between Voldemort and Dumbledore. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024

One of the best deals on last-minute tickets to F1 Las Vegas is at Ticket Network, which is offering THR readers an exclusive $150 off orders of $500 with code THR150 or $300 off $1,000 and up with code THR300. —Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024

Signing up for a library card allows readers to borrow titles, keep them for a set period of time and return them at no cost. —Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 11 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