read

/ri:d/

Friendly

The word "read" can be both a verb and a noun, and it has several meanings and uses. Let’s break it down:

As a Verb:

1. Basic Meaning: To look at and understand written words. For example, if you see a book, you can read it to learn what it says.

   • Example: "She reads a book every night before bed."

2. Understanding a Language: You can read in a language you know, like English, Spanish, or French.

   • Example: "Can you read Greek?" (This means, can you understand Greek when you see it written?)

3. Interpreting or Understanding: You can also read someone’s feelings or intentions based on their behavior.

   • Example: "I can't read his strange behavior." (This means you can't understand what his behavior means.)

4. Reading Aloud: Sometimes, "read" means to say something out loud that is written.

   • Example: "The king will read the proclamation at noon." (The king will say the proclamation out loud.)

5. Extracting Information: You can read data from devices or instruments.

   • Example: "The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero." (This means you can see the temperature on the thermometer.)

As a Noun:

1. Something that is Read: A "read" can refer to a book, article, or any text that is enjoyed or informative.
   • Example: "The article was a very good read." (This means the article was enjoyable or interesting to read.)

Advanced Usage:

• Interpretation: Sometimes, "read" is used to describe how someone understands or interprets something.
  • Example: "I read this address as a satire." (This means you understood the address as a type of humor.)

Word Variants:

• Reader: A person who reads.
  • Example: "She is an avid reader."
• Reading: The act of reading or a session of reading.
  • Example: "I enjoy reading in the park."

Different Meanings:

• To Read someone's Intentions: This means to try to understand what someone is thinking or feeling.
• Reading in Contexts: "Read" can also refer to how information is obtained, like reading instruments or data.

Synonyms:

• Peruse: To read carefully.
• Scan: To look over quickly.
• Interpret: To explain or understand the meaning.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Read between the lines: To understand the hidden meaning behind something.
  • Example: "If you read between the lines, you’ll see he is unhappy with the decision."
• Read up on: To study or learn about a topic.

Academic

Noun

1. something that is read
   • the article was a very good read

Verb

1. make sense of a language
   • She understands French
   • Can you read Greek?
2. to hear and understand
   • I read you loud and clear!
3. audition for a stage role by reading parts of a role
   • He is auditioning for `Julius Caesar' at Stratford this year
4. indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments
   • The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero
   • The gauge read `empty'
5. be a student of a certain subject
   • She is reading for the bar exam
6. interpret something in a certain way; convey a particular meaning or impression
   • I read this address as a satire
   • How should I take this message?
   • You can't take credit for this!
7. interpret the significance of, as of palms, tea leaves, intestines, the sky; also of human behavior
   • She read the sky and predicted rain
   • I can't read his strange behavior
   • The fortune teller read his fate in the crystal ball
8. obtain data from magnetic tapes
   • This dictionary can be read by the computer
9. look at, interpret, and say out loud something that is written or printed
   • The King will read the proclamation at noon
10. have or contain a certain wording or form
    • The passage reads as follows
    • What does the law say?
11. interpret something that is written or printed
    • read the advertisement
    • Have you read Salman Rushdie?

Synonyms

• understand
• interpret
• translate
• register
• show
• record
• learn
• study
• take
• scan
• say