read

verb (past and past participle read /red/)

• 1look at and comprehend the meaning of (written or printed matter) by mentally interpreting the characters or symbols of which it is composed:it’s the best novel I’ve ever read I never learned to read music Emily read over her notes [no object]:I’ll go to bed and read for a while
• speak (the written or printed matter that one is reading) aloud, typically to another person:the charges against him were read out [with two objects]:his mother read him a bedtime story [no object]:I’ll read to you if you like
• [no object] have the ability to look at and comprehend the meaning of written or printed matter:only three of the girls could read and none could write
• habitually read (a particular newspaper or journal).
• discover (information) by reading it in a written or printed source:he was arrested yesterday—I read it in the paper [no object]:I read about the course in a magazine
• discern (a fact, emotion, or quality) in someone’s eyes or expression:she looked down, terrified that he would read fear on her face
• understand or interpret the nature or significance of:he didn’t dare look away, in case this was read as a sign of weakness
• [no object] (of a piece of writing) convey a specified impression to the reader:the brief note read like a cry for help
• [no object, with complement] (of a passage, text, or sign) contain or consist of specified words; have a certain wording:the placard read “We want justice.”
• used to indicate that a particular word in a text or passage is incorrect and that another should be substituted for it:for madam read madman
• [no object] (read for) (of an actor) audition for (a part in a play or film).
• (of a device) obtain data from (light or other input).

• 2inspect and record the figure indicated on (a measuring instrument):I’ve come to read the gas meter
• [no object, with complement] (of a measuring instrument) indicate a specified measurement or figure:the thermometer read 0° C

• 3chiefly British study (an academic subject) at a university:I’m reading English at Cambridge [no object]:he went to Manchester to read for a BA in Economics

• 4(of a computer) copy, transfer, or interpret (data).
• enter or extract (data) in an electronic storage device:the most common way of reading a file into the system

• 5hear and understand the words of (someone speaking on a radio transmitter):“Do you read me? Over.”

noun

• a person’s interpretation of something:their read on the national situation may be correct
• [with adjective] informal a book considered in terms of its readability:the book is a thoroughly entertaining read