Definition

1. Noun:
   • The action or skill of understanding written or printed matter: "reading" primarily refers to the cognitive process of interpreting written symbols to derive meaning.
   • A particular interpretation or performance: "reading" can denote a specific way of understanding or presenting a text, piece of music, or situation.
   • Written material intended to be read: "reading" can refer to a piece of text or a collection of texts.
   • A figure or measurement shown by a meter or similar instrument: "reading" is the value indicated by a measuring device.
   • A public recitation or instance of reading aloud: "reading" can refer to an event where written material is read to an audience.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Cognitive Process):

  • She enjoys reading before bed. (She enjoys the activity of understanding books before sleeping.)
  • His reading of the novel was very insightful. (His interpretation of the novel was very insightful.)

• Noun (Written Material):

  • The teacher assigned new reading for homework. (The teacher assigned new written material for homework.)
  • There is a list of suggested reading on the topic. (There is a list of suggested texts on the topic.)

• Noun (Measurement):

  • The meter reading was unusually high. (The value shown on the meter was unusually high.)
  • Please take a reading from the thermometer. (Please note the measurement shown on the thermometer.)

• Noun (Public Event):

  • The poet gave a reading of her latest work. (The poet performed a recitation of her latest work.)
  • We attended a play reading at the library. (We attended an event where a play script was read aloud.)

Advanced Usage

• "A close reading": a careful, detailed analysis of a text.

  • The literary critic performed a close reading of the poem. (The critic performed a detailed analysis of the poem.)

• "On/upon reading": when one reads something.

  • On reading the letter, she immediately called him. (When she read the letter, she immediately called him.)

• "To take something as a reading": to interpret something as an indication or sign.

  • We can take the survey results as a reading of public opinion. (We can interpret the survey results as an indication of public opinion.)

Variants and Related Words

• Read (verb): to look at and comprehend the meaning of written or printed matter.

  • I read the newspaper every morning. (I look at and understand the newspaper every morning.)

• Readable (adjective): (of text) clear and easy to read; (of a book) enjoyable to read.

  • The document uses a large, readable font. (The document uses a large, easy-to-read font.)
  • It's a highly readable novel. (It's a very enjoyable novel to read.)

• Reader (noun): a person who reads; a book containing texts for students to practice reading.

  • She is a fast reader. (She is a person who reads quickly.)
  • We use a French reader in our class. (We use a book of French texts in our class.)

Synonyms

• Perusal: the action of reading or examining something.
• Interpretation: the action of explaining the meaning of something.
• Recitation: the action of repeating something aloud from memory.

Related Phrases and Phrasal Verbs

• Reading into something: attributing more meaning or significance to something than is warranted.

  • You're reading too much into his casual remark. (You are attributing too much significance to his casual remark.)

• Reading up on something: studying or learning about a subject by reading.

  • I need to read up on the new regulations before the meeting. (I need to study the new regulations by reading about them before the meeting.)

Idioms and Expressions

• A reading public: the group of people who regularly read books, magazines, etc.

  • The author's work appeals to a broad reading public. (The author's work appeals to a wide group of people who read.)

• Between the lines: understanding the implied or hidden meaning in what is written or said.

  • Reading between the lines, I think she's unhappy with the decision. (Interpreting the hidden meaning, I think she's unhappy with the decision.)

Noun

1. the act of measuring with meters or similar instruments
   • he has a job meter reading for the gas company
2. a public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory) something prepared in advance
   • the program included songs and recitations of well-loved poems
3. a city on the River Thames in Berkshire in southern England
4. a mental representation of the meaning or significance of something
5. written material intended to be read
   • the teacher assigned new readings
   • he bought some reading material at the airport
6. a datum about some physical state that is presented to a user by a meter or similar instrument
   • he could not believe the meter reading
   • the barometer gave clear indications of an approaching storm
7. a particular interpretation or performance
   • on that reading it was an insult
   • he was famous for his reading of Mozart
8. the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
   • his main reading was detective stories
   • suggestions for further reading