reef

Pronunciation

• enPR: rēf, IPA ^(key): /riːf/

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Noun

Singular reef

Plural reefs

1. (countable) A reef is a long chain of rocks or coral that is found in the ocean.
2. (nautical) A reef is a portion of a sail that can be rolled up to reduce the area that will be exposed to high wind.

Verb

Plain form reef

Third-person singular reefs

Past tense reefed

Past participle reefed

Present participle reefing

1. (nautical) If you reef, you take in part of a sail in order to change the size of the sail.