reed
reed — noun
1. a tall grass-like plant whose tubular, empty core is a familiar sight along rive
a tall grass-like plant whose tubular, empty core is a familiar sight along riverbanks and marshy ground — people once used these stems to cover roofs, weave baskets, or make writing pens.
The children played hide-and-seek among the tall reeds by the lake.
collocation: tall reeds / reeds by the lake
Baraka cut some reeds from the riverbank to repair the damaged roof.
Thick reeds grew along the creek until we could barely see the water.
The old hut had a roof made of dried reeds tied together with rope.
文法句型
a reed / reeds
用法筆記
The stem of a reed plant is hollow and lightweight. This sense is the original meaning from which all other senses of 'reed' developed.
常見錯誤
2. a narrow sliver of split cane, synthetic material, or metal that sits on the mou
a narrow sliver of split cane, synthetic material, or metal that sits on the mouthpiece of woodwind instruments — blowing air past it makes the reed vibrate, which gives the instrument its characteristic tone.
Nila bought a box of new reeds for her clarinet before the concert.
collocation: new reeds / reeds for [instrument]
The oboe player soaked her reed in water for a few minutes to soften it.
A broken reed can ruin the sound of a saxophone during a performance.
Hao carefully carved the piece of cane into a reed for his bassoon.
文法句型
a reed
用法筆記
Single-reed instruments (e.g. clarinet, saxophone) have one reed attached to the mouthpiece; double-reed instruments (e.g. oboe, bassoon) have two reeds tied together that vibrate against each other.
3. any woodwind instrument whose sound comes from a thin vibrating strip of materia
any woodwind instrument whose sound comes from a thin vibrating strip of material at its mouthpiece — in music shops and orchestras, people often call these instruments 'reeds' for short.
The reeds in the school orchestra tuned their instruments before the rehearsal.
collective: the reeds = reed players/instruments
Otis played both single reeds and double reeds in the jazz band.
The conductor asked the reeds to play their passage more softly.
Eshe picked up the clarinet, one of the easiest reeds for a beginner to learn.
- woodwind
a broader category that includes reed instruments as well as flutes
文法句型
the reeds (section)
用法筆記
This sense is most commonly used in the plural ('the reeds') to refer collectively to all reed instruments in an orchestra or band, or to the musicians who play them.
reed — verb
1. to fit a musical instrument with a reed, or to replace an old reed on an instrum
to fit a musical instrument with a reed, or to replace an old reed on an instrument — a technical term used mainly by instrument makers and professional players.
The repair shop reeded the old clarinet before returning it to Kasia.
The oboe had not been reeded in years, so its sound was weak.
passive: be reeded
Vinícius learned to reed his own bassoon at music school.
The technician reeded the antique saxophone and tested each note.
文法句型
be reeded
reed + [instrument]
用法筆記
This verb is rare in everyday speech. Most musicians simply say 'put a new reed on' instead of 'reed'.