Read | Mean of read in English Dictionary

/ˈriːd/

• Verb
• to look at and understand the meaning of letters, words, symbols, etc.
1. She learned to read at a very early age.
2. Can you read decimals/music/Braille?
3. I can't read your handwriting.
4. He claimed that he could read my palm. [=look at the lines on the palm of my hand and tell me what was going to happen to me in the future]
• to read the words of (a book, magazine, etc.)
1. He likes reading the newspaper.
2. She reads a lot of mystery novels.
3. We will be reading (works by) Milton in the class.
4. She starts work every day by reading her e-mail.
5. Didn't you read the instructions?
6. He likes to read.
7. She doesn't read much.
8. Please read from Chapter 5 through Chapter 10.
• to speak aloud the words of (something written)
1. He read the poem aloud.
2. The teacher read a story to us. = The teacher read us a story.
3. He wrote down the address I gave him and read it back to me.
4. Her mother read to her every night at bedtime.

• to learn information about something from a book, newspaper, etc.
1. I read about the fire in the newspaper.
2. I have read of such things happening elsewhere.
3. I read somewhere that he's making a new movie.
4. I read that they got married.
• to learn information about (someone) by looking at how that person behaves
1. I can't read her—I'm not sure if she likes me or not.
2. You're an easy person to read.
• to learn information about (something) by looking at particular characteristics
1. A good canoeist can read the rapids.
2. (golf) She missed the putt because she didn't read the green correctly.
3. (American football) The quarterback read the defense correctly.
• to understand (something) in a particular way
1. The way I read it, we're supposed to show up at 3 p.m.
2. The situation is hard to read. [=interpret]
3. I read his actions as a cry for help.
• to show (words) for someone to read
1. The sign reads [=says] “No Trespassing.”
• to show (a temperature, weight, number, etc.)
1. The thermometer reads 90 degrees.
2. The clock read 4:30.
• to be written in a particular way
1. The definition reads awkwardly. [=the definition is awkwardly written]
2. This essay will read better if you reorganize it.
3. The speech reads well. [=the speech is written well]
4. The first chapters read like a lecture.
• to get information from (something)
1. Someone reads the water meter once a month.
2. A scanner reads the bar codes on packages.
3. The computer can't read that disk.
• to hear and understand (someone) over a radio
1. Can you read me now?
2. I read you loud and clear.
• to replace (a word or number) with another word or number
1. In the second problem, read 5 instead of 3. [=the number should be 5, not 3]
• to study (a subject) especially at a university
1. He read history at Oxford.
2. She is reading for a business degree.
• to look for or find a hidden meaning that is not directly stated or obvious in something that someone writes or says
1. Her letter seemed pretty cheerful, but if you read between the lines, you can tell that she's not really happy.
• to think of (something, such as a comment or situation) as having a meaning or importance that does not seem likely or reasonable
1. You're reading too much into her remarks. [=her remarks do not have the meaning or importance that you think they have]
• to understand what people are saying by watching the movement of their lips
1. deaf people who know how to read lips
2. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but I was able to read his lips.
3. “Can't I please go?” “Read my lips: you're not going, and that's final!”
• to read (something) aloud especially to other people
1. I read out the names on the list.
• to read (something) from beginning to end especially to look for mistakes or check details
1. He read over [=read through] the directions/contract carefully.
• to easily understand the true thoughts and feelings of (someone) by looking at how that person acts or behaves
1. My mom always knows when I'm lying. She can read me like a book.
• to know or guess what someone is thinking
1. She looked deep into his eyes, trying to read his thoughts.
2. “I think we should go out to a movie tonight.” “You read my mind. I was thinking the same thing.”
• to read a lot about (something) in order to learn about it
1. I read up on the history of the war.
• to accept or assume that something is true and does not need to be proved
1. You can take it as read [=you can be sure] that there's nothing really new in their proposal.
• Noun
• something (such as a book) that is read
1. The book is an easy read. [=the book is easy to read; reading the book is easy]
2. The book is a good/quick/enjoyable read.
• an act of reading something (such as a book, article, etc.)
1. He reviewed the book after several reads.
2. Give this article a read [=read this article] and tell me what you think of it.
• a period of time spent reading
1. She was lying in bed having a peaceful read.
• having knowledge that has been gained from reading books, articles, etc.
1. He is well-read.
2. He is better read than most people.
3. She is widely read in [=she has read a lot of] American literature.