Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

reef 1       (rēf)  Pronunciation Key  n.   A strip or ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to or near the surface of a body of water. A vein of ore. [Obsolete Dutch rif, possibly from Old Norse, ridge.] reef'y adj.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

reef 2       (rēf)  Pronunciation Key  n.   A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed to the wind. tr.v.   reefed, reef·ing, reefs To reduce the size of (a sail) by tucking in a part and tying it to or rolling it around a yard. To shorten (a topmast or bowsprit) by taking part of it in. [Middle English riff, from Old Norse rif, ridge, reef.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
reef  (1)

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
reef  (2)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

reef
noun
1.	a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
2.	a rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese [syn: Witwatersrand]
3.	one of several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to lessen the area of the sail that is exposed to the wind
verb
1.	lower and bring partially inboard; "reef the sailboat's mast"
2.	roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area
3.	reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

reef       (rēf)  Pronunciation Key  A strip or ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to or near the surface of a body of water. See more at coral reef.

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Ocean Reef, FL Zip code(s): 33037

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.