What does "reef" mean?
A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water.
Reef
/ɹiːf/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water.
- Grammar: reef is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: ait, archipelago, arrest, atoll.
- Useful contrasts: deep water, full sail, open water.
- Usage evidence: The ship was wrecked on a sunken reef.
How to use "reef"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "reef" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "reef" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "reef" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "reef" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "reef" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ait" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "reef", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water.
- 2 A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed in a high wind.
"They sailed as if they were stark mad; they never took in a reef in the sail, and when the seas filled the boat, they sailed her up on the back of a wave till she stood nearly on end, the water rushing out over her stern as out of a spout."
- 3 The itch; any eruptive skin disorder.
- 4 one of several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to lessen the area of the sail that is exposed to the wind wordnet
- 5 A large vein of auriferous quartz; hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore. Australia, South-Africa
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A reef knot.
- 7 Dandruff.
- 8 a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water wordnet
Verb
- 1 To take in part of a sail in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind.
""When the day arrived that the boy was to be skipper, the weather was calm and fine, but he called all men to reef sails, so the ship had scarcely any sail on her.""
- 2 reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef wordnet
- 3 To pull or yank strongly, especially in relation to horse riding. Australia
"And when the Cup came on he stirred them up ′round the barrier and he flew out of the barrier and he pulled and reefed and pulled and reefed and Lewis didn′t let him settle down until about three furlongs from home and when he did settle the horse was all out of stride and he went back through the field a fair bit."
- 4 roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area wordnet
- 5 To move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.
"Reef the paddles."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 lower and bring partially inboard wordnet
- 7 To manipulate the lining of a person's pocket in order to steal the contents unnoticed. slang
"This was done by "reefing." He put two fingers just inside the opening and lifted the lining a trifle. Although I watched his hands, I could feel nothing, so gently did his fingers work. Reefing a couple of times, he lifted my handkerchief, as he might have taken out anything else."
Adjective
- 1 Scabby; scurvy.
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from German.
Antonyms
Example
"The ship was wrecked on a sunken reef."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "reef"?
Common synonyms include: ait, archipelago, arrest, atoll, backpedal, backwater.
How do you use "reef" in a sentence?
The ship was wrecked on a sunken reef.
How do you pronounce "reef"?
Pronounced /ɹiːf/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From earlier riff, from Middle English rif, from Old Norse rif (“rib, reef”), from Proto-Germanic *ribją (“rib, reef”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rebʰ- (“arch, ceiling, cover”). Dutch rif (“reef”), Low German riff, reff (“reef”), German Riff (“reef, ledge”) are also borrowed from Old Norse. Doublet of rib.
Etymology 2
From Middle English reef, from Old Norse rif, Middle Dutch rif, rēve, and/or Middle Low German ref. Possibly a figurative use of the word for “rib” in etymology 1 above, in which case all forms must, again, be borrowings from Old Norse. Alternatively it may be a different word related to Old English rift (“curtain, veil”), ārāfian (“to uncoil, wind off”).
Etymology 3
From Middle English ref, hreof, from Old English hrēof (“rough, scabby, leprous", also "a leper”), from Proto-Germanic *hreubaz (“rough, scabby, scrubby”), from Proto-Indo-European *kreup- (“scab, crust”), related to Old English hrēofla (“leprosy, leper”). Cognate with Scots reif (“a skin disease leaving crusts on the skin, the scab”), Old High German riob (“leprous, scabby, mangy”), Icelandic hrjúfur (“scabby, rough”). Compare riffe, dandruff.
Etymology 4
Borrowed from North German Reef, possibly related to Reep (“rope”), or otherwise from obsolete rif (“body”) (from Proto-West Germanic *hrif).