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Added 8 October 2026

reef

/ɹiːf/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about reef at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water.
A large vein of auriferous quartz; hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore.

noun

A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed in a high wind.
A reef knot.

verb

To take in part of a sail in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind.
To pull or yank strongly, especially in relation to horse riding.
To move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.
Reef the paddles.

adjective

Scabby; scurvy.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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