reed
reed
Reed (noun) means a tall, slender grass-like plant that grows in wet ground or shallow water. Example: “Frogs hid among the reeds at the water's edge.”
noun
1
A tall, slender grass-like plant that grows in wet ground or shallow water.
"Frogs hid among the reeds at the water's edge."
"The path was lined with tall reeds swaying in the breeze."
"Reeds grew thick along the edge of the pond."
2
A thin strip of cane or metal in certain musical instruments that vibrates to produce sound.
"The oboe's double reed must be wet before you start to play."
"A cracked reed makes the saxophone sound harsh and squeaky."
"He replaced the reed on his clarinet before the concert."
How to use reed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tall marsh plant, or the vibrating strip that makes sound in instruments like clarinets and oboes.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a bed of reeds
clarinet reed
reed instrument
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Word forms
- Plural
- reeds
- Third person singular
- reeds
- Past tense
- reeded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Frogs hid among the _____ at the water's edge.
Etymology
From Old English hreod, referring to the wetland plant.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for reed
See all rhymes for reed →Frequently asked questions
What does “reed” mean?
The word “reed” means a tall, slender grass-like plant that grows in wet ground or shallow water. In plain terms, a tall marsh plant, or the vibrating strip that makes sound in instruments like clarinets and oboes.
How do you pronounce “reed”?
“Reed” is pronounced reed (/ɹiːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “reed” in a sentence?
Here is “reed” used in a sentence: “Reeds grew thick along the edge of the pond.”
What part of speech is “reed”?
“Reed” is a noun.
Where does the word “reed” come from?
The word “reed” comes from Old English. From Old English hreod, referring to the wetland plant.
Is “reed” a common word?
“Reed” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “reed” have?
“Reed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tall, slender grass-like plant that grows in wet ground or shallow water.
Where do reeds grow?
Reeds are tall, slender, grass-like plants that grow in wet ground or shallow water. They are typically found in marshes, reed beds, and along the edges of rivers, lakes and ponds.
Which musical instruments use a reed?
Single-reed instruments include the clarinet and saxophone, while the oboe and bassoon use a double reed. Instruments such as the harmonica and accordion use thin metal reeds; in every case the reed is a strip of cane or metal that vibrates to produce the sound.
What is the difference between a single reed and a double reed?
A single reed is one strip of cane that vibrates against the mouthpiece of an instrument such as a clarinet or saxophone. A double reed consists of two strips bound together that vibrate against each other, as on an oboe or bassoon.
Do reed and read sound the same?
Yes, reed is a homophone of the present-tense verb read, so "a reed" and "to read" sound identical in speech. The plant and the vibrating strip in an instrument are always spelled reed, while the word for looking at written text is spelled read.
