Meaning & use
reeds
Last updated
“reeds” is a form of “reed”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Tall, thin plants that grow in or near water, with hollow stems.
Grammar: Plural form of 'reed'; use with plural verbs, e.g., 'The reeds are swaying.'
Patterns
- reeds grow
- among the reeds
- a bed of reeds
The pond was surrounded by tall reeds.
Birds often nest among the reeds.
We could hear the wind rustling the reeds.
nounplural
Thin pieces of cane or metal in some musical instruments that vibrate to make sound.
Grammar: Plural form of 'reed'; refers to multiple such pieces.
Patterns
- reeds vibrate
- replace the reeds
- a set of reeds
The clarinet player carefully adjusted the reeds.
These reeds are worn out and need replacing.
The organ's reeds produce a rich, buzzing tone.
Common combinations
- reed bed
- The reed bed provides habitat for many birds.
- reed instrument
- The oboe is a double-reed instrument.
- among the reeds
- The boat got stuck among the reeds.
- tall reeds
- Tall reeds lined the riverbank.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rushes
- Rushes are similar water plants but typically have solid stems, while reeds have hollow stems.
- grasses
- Grasses is a broader term that includes many plants; reeds are a specific type of tall grass-like plant.
Word family
Commonly confused: reeds or reads?
reeds vs reads
Reads is the third-person singular of 'read'; reeds are plants or instrument parts. They sound the same but have different meanings.
Practice
Choose the correct word: The marsh is full of tall ___ that sway in the wind.
Choose one answer.
The sentence needs a plural noun for multiple plants, so 'reeds' is correct. 'Reads' is a verb, 'reeds'' is possessive, and 'reed' is singular and would not agree with 'are' or the plural context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reeds”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.