reef
A reef is a raised area on the ocean floor that's made of rock, coral, or sand. If you are a scuba diver, head to a coral reef to check out the diverse marine life.
A barrier reef is one that surrounds an island and creates a lagoon between the reef and the beach. When this type of reef attracts diverse ocean life, it can be popular with snorkelers and scuba divers. When you're sailing, a reef is a section of the sail that you can roll up when necessary — and to reef is to roll up a reef. Both meanings share an Old Norse root, rif, "ridge under the water."
Definitions of reef
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a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
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types:
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coral reef
a reef consisting of coral consolidated into limestone
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atoll
an island consisting of a circular coral reef surrounding a lagoon
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barrier reef
a long coral reef near and parallel to the shore
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Florida key, cay, key
a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida
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type of:
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ridge
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
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one of several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to lessen the area of the sail that is exposed to the wind
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roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area
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reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef
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lower and bring partially inboard“reef the sailboat's mast”
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type of:
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bring down, get down, let down, lower, take down
move something or somebody to a lower position
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bring down, get down, let down, lower, take down
Word Family
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