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reef2

Pronunciation: /riːf/
Sailing
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Definition of reef

noun

  • each of the several strips across a sail which can be taken in or rolled up to reduce the area exposed to the wind.

verb

[with object]
  • take in one or more reefs of (a sail):reef the mainsail in strong winds
  • shorten (a topmast or a bowsprit).

Origin:

Middle English: from Middle Dutch reef, rif, from Old Norse rif, literally 'rib', used in the same sense; compare with reef1

reef in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of reef in the US English dictionary

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