Reef

/riːf/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A ridge of sand, coral, or rock lying at or near the surface of a body of water.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most famous coral reefs in the world.

A submerged or partially submerged rock or coral formation that can be dangerous to ships.

The captain warned the crew to steer clear of the reef to avoid running aground.

An accumulation of marine plants and animals, especially coral, creating a structure in the ocean.

Divers explored the vibrant underwater ecosystem surrounding the tropical reef.

verb

To reduce the area of a sail by folding or rolling it up to allow for better control in strong winds.

The sailor had to reef the mainsail after the wind picked up unexpectedly.

Middle English 'ref', from Old Norse 'rif', meaning 'a ridge'.

reef knot

A type of knot used to join two ropes together.

outer reef

The part of a coral reef lying farther away from the shore.

fringing reef

A type of reef that is directly attached to a shore.

coral

A marine invertebrate that builds reefs.

atoll

A ring-shaped reef, island, or series of islets.

To reef a sail

The captain ordered the crew to reef the sails as the storm approached.

Reefing (in general slang usage)

When the party started to get out of hand, we had to reef it back in.