1. (n.)reed the straight stalk of any of various tall grasses, esp. of the genusPhragmites,growing in marshy places.
2. reed any of the plants themselves.
3. reed such stalks or plants collectively, esp. as material for thatching.
4. reed anything made from such a stalk, as an arrow.
5. reed a small, flexible piece of cane or metal that, attached to the mouth of any of various wind instruments, is set into vibration by a stream of air and, in turn, sets into vibration the air column enclosed in the tube of the instrument.
6. reed the comblike device in a loom that separates the warpthreads during weaving and is used to beat the filling yarns.
7. reed a small convex molding, usu. one of a series set in parallel rows as decoration.
8. reed an ancient unit of length, equal to 6 cubits. Ezek. 40:5.
3. (noun)Reed, Walter Reed United States physician who proved that yellowfever is transmitted by mosquitoes (1851-1902)
4. (noun)reed, vibrating reed a vibrator consisting of a thin strip of stiffmaterial that vibrates to produce a tone when air streams over it "the clarinetist fitted a new reed onto his mouthpiece"
5. (noun)beating-reed instrument, reed instrument, reed a musicalinstrument that sounds by means of a vibrating reed
3. (noun)REED a namegiven to many tall and coarse grasses or grasslike plants, and their slender, often jointed, stems, such as the various kinds of bamboo, and especially the commonreed of Europe and NorthAmerica (Phragmites communis)
8. (noun)REED one of the thin pieces of metal, the vibration of which produce the tones of a melodeon, accordeon, harmonium, or seraphine; also attached to certain sets or registers of pipes in an organ