verb / noun / adjective

read

REED/riːd/

To interpret the meaning of written words.

A woman reads an open book by the window.

Black woman follows lines of print in an open book by window.

Etymology

readOld Englishto advise, interpret, read

Old English rædan covered advising and interpreting as well as reading. Understanding written words belongs to this broader idea of making out meaning—the same connection that links read with riddle.

In context

The Seshew9:20

they are read left to right or right to left and it depends which direction that you're going to read them based on the way the glyphs are facing

Egyptian Hieroglyphic - Transliteration & Translation 7-3-18

More examples

Please read the instructions aloud before we begin.
I read the warning sign and turn back.
The mystery novel is a quick read.
She is widely read in American history.

Forms

read · reads · reading

reader noun — A person who reads written material.

reading noun — The activity of understanding written words.

Similar words

skim: Read quickly for main ideas rather than every detail.
decipher: Make sense of writing that is difficult to recognize.