reading Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
    • his main reading was detective stories
    • suggestions for further reading
  2. noun a particular interpretation or performance
    • on that reading it was an insult
    • he was famous for his reading of Mozart
  3. noun a datum about some physical state that is presented to a user by a meter or similar instrument
    indication; meter reading.
    • he could not believe the meter reading
    • the barometer gave clear indications of an approaching storm
  4. noun written material intended to be read
    reading material.
    • the teacher assigned new readings
    • he bought some reading material at the airport
  5. noun a mental representation of the meaning or significance of something
    interpretation; version.
  6. noun a city on the River Thames in Berkshire in southern England
  7. noun a public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory) something prepared in advance
    recitation; recital.
    • the program included songs and recitations of well-loved poems
  8. noun the act of measuring with meters or similar instruments
    meter reading.
    • he has a job meter reading for the gas company
  9. verb interpret something that is written or printed
    read.
    • read the advertisement
    • Have you read Salman Rushdie?
  10. verb have or contain a certain wording or form
    read; say.
    • The passage reads as follows
    • What does the law say?
  11. verb look at, interpret, and say out loud something that is written or printed
    read.
    • The King will read the proclamation at noon
  12. verb obtain data from magnetic tapes
    read; scan.
    • This dictionary can be read by the computer
  13. verb interpret the significance of, as of palms, tea leaves, intestines, the sky; also of human behavior
    read.
    • She read the sky and predicted rain
    • I can't read his strange behavior
    • The fortune teller read his fate in the crystal ball
  14. verb interpret something in a certain way; convey a particular meaning or impression
    read; take.
    • I read this address as a satire
    • How should I take this message?
    • You can't take credit for this!
  15. verb be a student of a certain subject
    read; study; take; learn.
    • She is reading for the bar exam
  16. verb indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments
    read; record; register; show.
    • The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero
    • The gauge read `empty'
  17. verb audition for a stage role by reading parts of a role
    read.
    • He is auditioning for `Julius Caesar' at Stratford this year
  18. verb to hear and understand
    read.
    • I read you loud and clear!
  19. verb make sense of a language
    read; translate; understand; interpret.
    • She understands French
    • Can you read Greek?

WordNet

Read"ing noun
Definitions
  1. The act of one who reads; perusal; also, printed or written matter to be read.
  2. Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a man of extensive reading.
  3. A lecture or prelection; public recital.
    The Jews had their weekly readings of the law. Hooker.
  4. The way in which anything reads; force of a word or passage presented by a documentary authority; lection; version.
  5. Manner of reciting, or acting a part, on the stage; way of rendering. Cant
  6. An observation read from the scale of a graduated instrument; as, the reading of a barometer.
Read"ing adjective
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to the act of reading; used in reading.
  2. Addicted to reading; as, a reading community.

Webster 1913