meaning of reef
1. A chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water. See Coral reefs, under Coral.
2. A large vein of auriferous quartz; -- so called in Australia. Hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore.
3. 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.
4. To reduce the extent of (as a sail) by roiling or folding a certain portion of it and making it fast to the yard or spar.
5. a rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese
Related Words
reef | reef knot | reef squirrelfish | reef whitetip shark | reef-band | reefed | reefer | reefing | reefy |
