'Reef' definitions:

Definition of 'reef'

(from WordNet)
noun
A submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
noun
A rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese [syn: Witwatersrand, Rand, Reef]
noun
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
verb
Lower and bring partially inboard; "reef the sailboat's mast"
verb
Roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area
verb
Reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef

Definition of 'Reef'

From: GCIDE
  • Reef \Reef\ (r[=e]f), n. [Akin to D. rif, G. riff, Icel. rif, Dan. rev; cf. Icel. rifa rift, rent, fissure, rifa to rive, bear. Cf. Rift, Rive.]
  • 1. A chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water. See Coral reefs, under Coral. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Mining.) A large vein of auriferous quartz; -- so called in Australia. Hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore. [1913 Webster]
  • Reef builder (Zool.), any stony coral which contributes material to the formation of coral reefs.
  • Reef heron (Zool.), any heron of the genus Demigretta; as, the blue reef heron (Demigretta jugularis) of Australia. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Reef'

From: GCIDE
  • Reef \Reef\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reefed (r[=e]ft); p. pr. & vb. n. Reefing.] (Naut.) To reduce the extent of (as a sail) by rolling or folding a certain portion of it and making it fast to the yard or spar. --Totten. [1913 Webster]
  • To reef the paddles, to move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Reef'

From: GCIDE
  • Reef \Reef\, n. [Akin to D. reef, G. reff, Sw. ref; cf. Icel. rif reef, rifa to basten together. Cf. Reeve, v. t., River.] (Naut.) That part of a sail which is taken in or let out by means of the reef points, in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: From the head to the first reef-band, in square sails, is termed the first reef; from this to the next is the second reef; and so on. In fore-and-aft sails, which reef on the foot, the first reef is the lowest part. --Totten. [1913 Webster]
  • Close reef, the last reef that can be put in.
  • Reef band. See Reef-band in the Vocabulary.
  • Reef knot, the knot which is used in tying reef pointss. See Illust. under Knot.
  • Reef line, a small rope formerly used to reef the courses by being passed spirally round the yard and through the holes of the reef. --Totten.
  • Reef points, pieces of small rope passing through the eyelet holes of a reef-band, and used reefing the sail.
  • Reef tackle, a tackle by which the reef cringles, or rings, of a sail are hauled up to the yard for reefing. --Totten.
  • To take a reef in, to reduce the size of (a sail) by folding or rolling up a reef, and lashing it to the spar. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'reef'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Reef'