(reef)
31Reef — Recorded as Reef, Reff, Rope, Roope, Roper, Rooper, Raper, Rapier (English), Riep, Repp, Reef (German), Reep, Reeper, Reepmaeker (Flemish and Dutch), and probably others, this is a surname of ancient origins. It is derived from the pre 7th… …
32reef — {{11}}reef (1) ridge underwater, 1580s, probably via Du. riffe, from O.N. rif ridge, lit. rib (see RIB (Cf. rib)). {{12}}reef (2) horizontal section of sail, late 14c., from O.N. rif reef of a sail, probably a transferred use of rif …
33reef — 1 noun (C) a line of sharp rocks, often made of coral, or a raised area of sand near the surface of the sea: The ship was wrecked on a reef. | the Great Barrier Reef 2 also reef in verb (T) technical to tie up part of a sail in order to make it… …
34reef — I. noun Etymology: Middle English riff, from Old Norse rif; probably akin to Old Norse rīfa to rend more at rive Date: 14th century 1. a part of a sail taken in or let out in regulating size 2. reduction in sail area by reefing II. verb Date:… …
35reef — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun Reef is used before these nouns: ↑knot {{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}} verb Reef is used with these nouns as the object: ↑sail …
36reef — Synonyms and related words: ait, archipelago, arrest, atoll, backpedal, backwater, bank, bar, bill, brake, breakwater, cape, cay, check, chersonese, clear the decks, clip the wings, consider every angle, continental island, coral head, coral… …
37reef — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. sandbar, shoal, bank, ledge. See convexity, shallowness. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. ridge, shoal, bar, sand bar, rock, bank, beach, coral reef, atoll, ledge, rock barrier. See Synonym Study at shoal .… …
38reef — English has two words reef, which both come from the same source, but have reached the language via different routes. That source was Old Norse rif ‘rib’, a close relative of English rib. Amongst its metaphorical senses were ‘horizontal section… …
39reef — [[t]ri͟ːf[/t]] reefs N COUNT A reef is a long line of rocks or sand, the top of which is just above or just below the surface of the sea. An unspoilt coral reef encloses the bay …
40reef */ — UK [riːf] / US [rɪf] noun [countable] Word forms reef : singular reef plural reefs a long line of rock or coral in the sea, with its top just below or just above the surface …
