read

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To look at written or printed words and understand their meaning.

   Have you read this book?

2. 2
   verb

   To say written words aloud.

   The teacher read the story to the children.

3. 3
   verb

   To have certain words written in it.

   The sign reads "No entry."

4. 4
   verb

   To study a subject, especially at university.

   She is reading law at Oxford.

5. 5
   noun

   Something that you read, judged by how enjoyable it is.

   The article was a very good read.

Common collocations

• read a book Verb + noun
• read a message Verb + noun
• read a sign Verb + noun
• easy read Adjective + noun
• good read Adjective + noun
• quick read Adjective + noun
• have a read Verb + noun
• read a paper Verb + noun
• compelling read Adjective + noun

From Middle English reden, from Old English rǣdan (“to counsel, advise, consult; interpret, read”), from Proto-West Germanic *rādan, from Proto-Germanic *rēdaną (“advise, counsel”), from Proto-Indo-European *Hreh₁dʰ- (“to arrange”). Cognate with Scots rede, red (“to advise, counsel, decipher, read”), Saterland Frisian räide (“to advise, counsel”), West Frisian riede (“to advise, counsel”), Dutch raden (“to advise; guess”), German raten (“to advise; guess”), Danish råde (“to advise”), Swedish råda (“to advise, counsel”), Persian رده (rade, “to order, to arrange, class”). In West Germanic the ve…

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