reading1
/ˈriːdɪŋ
/noun
1 [mass noun] The action or skill of reading: the reading of a will suggestions for further reading [as modifier]: reading skills...
- More than just reading skills are impaired, you can count on it.
- A country of ten-year-olds should concentrate on their reading and comprehension skills.
- His reading and writing skills have also dramatically changed.
Synonyms
perusal, study, scan, scanning, scrutiny;
browse (through), look (through), glance (through), leaf (through), flick (through), skim (through)
1.1Written or printed matter that can be read: his main reading was detective stories [with adjective]: I found the article fascinating reading...
- These biographies make fascinating reading filled with personal memories.
- Your CV on the Department of Education's website makes for fascinating reading.
- Also on that page is some fascinating reading about how earthquakes prove that the Earth is hollow.
1.2 [usually with adjective] Knowledge of literature: a man of wide reading...
- Yet it is no surprise that the man who emerges in these pages should be so broadly intelligent, with a wide reading and knowledge of the arts.
- These are the fruit of her intense and wide reading in primary literature.
- It is my firm belief, based on experience and fairly wide reading, that they are wrong.
Synonyms
learning, book learning, scholarship, education, erudition, knowledge (of literature)
2An occasion at which pieces of literature are read to an audience: a poetry reading...
- She was an accomplished reader of her own verse, and found a new young audience at the poetry readings which flourished in the 1960s.
- Hence, perhaps, her later insistence on singing to the captive audiences at her poetry readings.
- They also gained wider audiences through public readings in both poetry and prose.
2.1A piece of literature or passage of scripture that is read aloud: readings from the Bible...
- The combined choirs will sing the traditional carols of the Christmas season and in addition there will be readings from Sacred Scripture.
- There are many ways, but today let's focus on two, both of which are related to the Scripture readings we will hear at Mass.
- Each service includes short scripture readings, petitions regarding mourning, suggestions for reflection, and room for journaling.
Synonyms
passage, lesson;
section, piece, selection;
recital, recitation
3A particular interpretation of a text or situation: feminist readings of Goethe...
- It won't be a perfect fit, any more than modern feminist readings of the Bible are a perfect fit, but it will do for the time being.
- McLeish believes it is the combination of strength, skill and also his reading of the game which makes him so difficult to play against.
- He isn't as fast as Cole, but has tremendous skill and reading of the game.
Synonyms
interpretation, construal, understanding, account, explanation, analysis, construction;
version
informal take
4A figure or amount shown by a meter or other measuring instrument: radiation readings were taken every hour...
- To reduce measurement error, this instrument takes three readings and computes an average.
- If there is a large discrepancy between the water meter readings and the amount of water shown on the bill, a specialist is sent to investigate the problem.
- Even frequent meter readings provided information about energy use after the fact, not allowing actions to be taken to reduce energy use or energy demand.
Synonyms
record, figure, indication, read-out, display, measurement
5A stage of debate in parliament through which a Bill must pass before it can become law: the Bill returns to the House for its final reading next week...
- This bill still awaits the final reading and approval by Parliament.
- Parliament approved their final reading on April 3 after much controversy.
- It must pass two more readings in coming weeks before it is final.
Reading2
/ˈrɛdɪŋ/A town in Berkshire, southern England, on the River Kennet near its junction with the Thames; population 142,300 (est. 2009).
