# reed

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɹiːd/ · frequency rank #6,406

## Definitions
1. Any of various types of tall stiff perennial grass-like plants growing together in groups near water.
2. The hollow stem of these plants.
3. Part of an aerophone musical instrument, comprising a thin piece of wood or metal, which vibrates to produce sound when air passes through it.
4. Short for reed instrument.
5. A comb-like part of a beater for beating the weft when weaving.
6. A piece of whalebone or similar for stiffening the skirt or waist of a woman's dress.
7. Reeding.
8. A tube containing the train of powder for igniting the charge in blasting.
9. Straw prepared for thatching a roof.
10. A missile weapon.
11. A measuring rod.
12. A measuring rod.

## Etymology
From Middle English red, reed, from Old English hrēod, from Proto-West Germanic *hreud, of uncertain origin.
Akin to Saterland Frisian Rait (“reed”), West Frisian reid (“reed”), Dutch riet (“reed”), German Ried (“reed”). No cognates in North Germanic languages, but the existence of an otherwise unattested Gothic *𐌷𐍂𐌹𐌿𐌳 (*hriud) was supposed by the brothers Grimm. They also theorised that the word may have a relation to the retas mentioned in Noctes Atticae (Aulus Gellius). The measuring reed sense is the translation of Akkadian qanûm ("cane") used in the Bible and elsewhere.

## Easily confused with
- **rid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rid)
- **rep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rep)
- **rod** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rod)
- **rev** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rev)
- **ref** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-ref)
- **rex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rex)
- **res** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-res)
- **Rey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rey)
- **reg** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-reg)
- **rue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rue)
- **rye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rye)
- **ren** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-ren)
- **roe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-roe)
- **REM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rem)
- **ret** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-ret)
- **rei** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rei)
- **rel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rel)
- **RTD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rtd)
- **reo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-reo)
- **rez** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reed-vs-rez)

## Common misspellings (4)
`ered`, `rede`, `reedd`, `rreed`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/reed