Definition of Reef. Meaning of Reef. Synonyms of Reef

Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word Reef. Also in the bottom left of the page several parts of wikipedia pages related to the word Reef and, of course, Reef synonyms and on the right images related to the word Reef.

Definition of Reef

Reef
Reef Reef (r?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. 2. (Mining.) A large vein of auriferous quartz; -- so called in Australia. Hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore. Reef builder (Zo["o]l.), any stony coral which contributes material to the formation of coral reefs. Reef heron (Zo["o]l.), any heron of the genus Demigretta; as, the blue reef heron (D. jugularis) of Australia.
Reef
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. 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. 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.
Reef
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 roiling or folding a certain portion of it and making it fast to the yard or spar. --Totten. To reef the paddles, to move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.

Meaning of Reef from wikipedia

- A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral, or similar relatively stable material lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water. Many reefs result...
- A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate...
- The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres...
- scarp in South Africa Great Barrier Reef or "The Reef", the planet's largest coral reef The Reef or The Reefs, a former mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, in...
- Look up reefing in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Reefing reduces the area of a sail, usually by folding or rolling one edge of the canvas in on itself...
- The reef triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus), also known as the rectangular triggerfish, wedgetail triggerfish or by its Hawaiian name humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa...
- Look up reef in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. A reef is a bar of rock, sand, coral or similar material, lying beneath the surface of water. Reef may also...
- island subsides, the coral fringing reef becomes a barrier reef that is detached from the island. Eventually, reef and the small coral islets on top of...
- The blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, which can be easily identified by the...
- A reef knoll is a landform that comprises an immense pile of calcareous material that had previously ac****ulated on an ancient sea floor. Reef knolls are...