read
18 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of READ
1
a
:
to look at and understand the meaning of letters, words, symbols, etc.
[no object]
-
She learned to read at a very early age.
[+ object]
-
Can you read decimals/music/Braille?
-
I can't read your handwriting.
-
He claimed that he could read my palm. [=look at the lines on the palm of my hand and tell me what was going to happen to me in the future]
b
:
to read the words of (a book, magazine, etc.)
[+ object]
-
He likes reading the newspaper.
-
She reads a lot of mystery novels.
-
We will be reading (works by) Milton in the class.
-
She starts work every day by reading her e-mail.
-
Didn't you read the instructions?
[no object]
-
He likes to read.
-
She doesn't read much.
-
Please read from Chapter 5 through Chapter 10.
c
:
to speak aloud the words of (something written)
—
see also read out (below)
[+ object]
-
He read the poem aloud.
-
The teacher read a story to us. = The teacher read us a story.
-
He wrote down the address I gave him and read it back to me.
[no object]
-
Her mother read to her every night at bedtime.
2
:
to learn information about something from a book, newspaper, etc.
— sometimes + of
[no object]
— often + about
-
I read about the fire in the newspaper.
-
I have read of such things happening elsewhere.
[+ object]
— + that
-
I read somewhere that he's making a new movie.
-
I read that they got married.
3
[+ object]
a
:
to learn information about (someone) by looking at how that person behaves
-
I can't read her—I'm not sure if she likes me or not.
-
You're an easy person to read.
b
:
to learn information about (something) by looking at particular characteristics
-
A good canoeist can read the rapids.
-
(golf) She missed the putt because she didn't read the green correctly.
-
(American football) The quarterback read the defense correctly.
4
[+ object]
:
to understand (something) in a particular way
— often + as
-
The way I read it, we're supposed to show up at 3 p.m.
-
The situation is hard to read. [=interpret]
-
I read his actions as a cry for help.
5
[+ object]
a
:
to show (words) for someone to read
-
The sign reads [=says] “No Trespassing.”
b
:
to show (a temperature, weight, number, etc.)
-
The thermometer reads 90 degrees.
-
The clock read 4:30.
6
[no object]
:
to be written in a particular way
-
The definition reads awkwardly. [=the definition is awkwardly written]
-
This essay will read better if you reorganize it.
-
The speech reads well. [=the speech is written well]
-
The first chapters read like a lecture.
7
[+ object]
:
to get information from (something)
-
Someone reads the water meter once a month.
-
A scanner reads the bar codes on packages.
-
The computer can't read that disk.
8
[+ object]
:
to hear and understand (someone) over a radio
-
Can you read me now?
-
I read you loud and clear.
9
[+ object]
:
to replace (a word or number) with another word or number
— used to indicate how something written or said should be changed or corrected
-
In the second problem, read 5 instead of 3. [=the number should be 5, not 3]
10
British
:
to study (a subject) especially at a university
[+ object]
-
He read history at Oxford.
[no object]
— often + for
-
She is reading for a business degree.
read between the lines
:
to look for or find a hidden meaning that is not directly stated or obvious in something that someone writes or says
-
Her letter seemed pretty cheerful, but if you read between the lines, you can tell that she's not really happy.
read into
[phrasal verb]
read into (something)
:
to think of (something, such as a comment or situation) as having a meaning or importance that does not seem likely or reasonable
-
You're reading too much into her remarks. [=her remarks do not have the meaning or importance that you think they have]
read lips
:
to understand what people are saying by watching the movement of their lips
:
lip-read
-
deaf people who know how to read lips
-
I couldn't hear what he was saying, but I was able to read his lips.
◊ People who tell you to read their lips mean that you should pay close attention to what they are saying.
-
“Can't I please go?” “Read my lips: you're not going, and that's final!”
read out
[phrasal verb]
read (something) out
or
read out (something)
:
to read (something) aloud especially to other people
-
I read out the names on the list.
read over
[phrasal verb]
read over (something)
or
read (something) over
:
to read (something) from beginning to end especially to look for mistakes or check details
-
He read over [=read through] the directions/contract carefully.
read (someone) like a book
:
to easily understand the true thoughts and feelings of (someone) by looking at how that person acts or behaves
-
My mom always knows when I'm lying. She can read me like a book.
read someone's thoughts
or read someone's mind
:
to know or guess what someone is thinking
-
She looked deep into his eyes, trying to read his thoughts.
-
“I think we should go out to a movie tonight.” “You read my mind. I was thinking the same thing.”
read (someone) the riot act
read through
[phrasal verb]
read through (something)
or
read (something) through
:
to read (something) from beginning to end especially to look for mistakes or check details
-
Remember to read through [=read over] the essay before you hand it in.
-
He read the instructions through twice before he tried to assemble the bicycle.
read up on
[phrasal verb]
read up on (something)
:
to read a lot about (something) in order to learn about it
-
I read up on the history of the war.
take (something) as read
British
:
to accept or assume that something is true and does not need to be proved
-
You can take it as read [=you can be sure] that there's nothing really new in their proposal.
plural
reads
plural
reads
Britannica Dictionary definition of READ
[count]
informal
1
:
something (such as a book) that is read
— usually singular
-
The book is an easy read. [=the book is easy to read; reading the book is easy]
-
The book is a good/quick/enjoyable read.
2
:
an act of reading something (such as a book, article, etc.)
— usually singular
-
He reviewed the book after several reads.
-
Give this article a read [=read this article] and tell me what you think of it.
3
chiefly British
:
a period of time spent reading
-
She was lying in bed having a peaceful read.
Britannica Dictionary definition of READ
:
having knowledge that has been gained from reading books, articles, etc.
— used after an adverb
-
He is well-read.
-
He is better read than most people.
-
She is widely read in [=she has read a lot of] American literature.
