read

I. verb (read; reading) Etymology: Middle English reden to advise, interpret, read, from Old English rǣdan; akin to Old High German rātan to advise, Sanskrit rādhnoti he achieves, prepares Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. (1) to receive or take in the sense of (as letters or symbols) especially by sight or touch (2) to study the movements of (as lips) with mental formulation of the communication expressed (3) to utter aloud the printed or written words of <

read them a story

> b. to learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing c. to deliver aloud by or as if by reading; specifically to utter interpretively d. (1) to become acquainted with or look over the contents of (as a book) (2) to make a study of <

read law

> (3) to read the works of e. to check (as copy or proof) for errors f. (1) to receive and understand (a voice message) by radio (2) understand, comprehend 2. a. to interpret the meaning or significance of <

read palms

> b. foretell, predict <

able to read his fortune

> 3. to recognize or interpret as if by reading: as a. to learn the nature of by observing outward expression or signs <

reads him like a book

> b. to note the action or characteristics of in order to anticipate what will happen <

a good canoeist reads the rapids

> <

a golfer reading a green

>; also to predict the movement of (a putt) by reading a green c. to anticipate by observation of an opponent's position or movement <

read a blitz

> 4. a. to attribute a meaning to (as something read) ; interpret <

how do you read this passage

> b. to attribute (a meaning) to something read or considered <

read a nonexistent meaning into her words

> 5. to use as a substitute for or in preference to another word or phrase in a particular passage, text, or version <

read hurry for harry

> — often used to introduce a clarifying substitute for a euphemistic or misleading word or phrase <

a friendly, read nosy, coworker

> 6. indicate <

the thermometer reads zero

> 7. to interpret (a musical work) in performance 8. a. to acquire (information) from storage; especially to sense the meaning of (data) in recorded and coded form — used of a computer or data processor b. to read the coded information on (as a floppy disk) intransitive verb 1. a. to perform the act of reading words ; read something b. (1) to learn something by reading (2) to pursue a course of study 2. a. to yield a particular meaning or impression when read b. to be readable or read in a particular manner or to a particular degree <

this book reads smoothly

> 3. to consist of specific words, phrases, or other similar elements <

a passage that reads differently in older versions

> II. adjective Date: 1586 instructed by or informed through reading III. noun Date: 1825 1. chiefly British a period of reading <

it was a night…for a read and a long sleep — William Sansom

> 2. something (as a book) that is read <

a novel that's a good read

> 3. the action or an instance of reading