reed
/ɹiːd/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.07 in modern English
5
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Any of various types of tall stiff perennial grass-like plants growing together in groups near water.
Countable
noun
Part of an aerophone musical instrument, comprising a thin piece of wood or metal, which vibrates to produce sound when air passes through it.
Countable
Example Sentences
Etymology
From Middle English red, from Old English hrēod, from Proto-West Germanic *hreud (“reed”), of uncertain origin. Cognates Cognate with North Frisian raid (“reed”), Saterland Frisian Räit (“reed”), West Frisian reid (“reed”), Dutch riet (“reed”), German Reet, Ried (“reed”). No cognates in North Germanic languages, but the existence of an otherwise unattested Gothic *𐌷𐍂𐌹𐌿𐌳 (*hriud) was supposed by the brothers Grimm. They also theorised that the word may have a relation to the retas mentioned in Noctes Atticae (Aulus Gellius). The measuring reed sense is the translation of Akkadian qanûm ("cane") used in the Bible and elsewhere.