reef

Noun

• one of several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to lessen the area of the sail that is exposed to the wind

• a rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese

• a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water

Verb

• reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef

• roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area

• lower and bring partially inboard
  • reef the sailboat's mast
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  Witwatersrand , Rand , Reef