reed

/riːd/ (bre, ipa) · [rˈid] /riːd/ (ame, ipa) · [rˈid] /ˈrēd/ (ame, mw)

reed — noun

  • reedsingular
  • reedsplural

1. a tall marsh plant with a stiff, tube-like stem, or a stem cut from that plant.

1.名詞B1
釋義

a tall marsh plant with a stiff, tube-like stem, or a stem cut from that plant.

例句

Zuri pushed her kayak through the tall reeds beside the lake.

collocation: tall reeds / beside the lake

After the flood, workers cut dried reeds to patch the shed roof.

use: cut reeds for building

同義詞
  • rush

    a similar wetland plant, but usually not the main everyday word for the hollow stem plant

  • bulrush

    a more specific wetland plant name, often used in nature writing

文法句型

a reed / reeds

a bed of reeds

用法筆記

Often plural when talking about a patch of these plants. The same word can also mean one hollow stem cut from the plant.

常見錯誤

❌The duck disappeared into the reed.
✅The duck disappeared into the reeds.
💡We usually use the plural when talking about a clump or area of these plants.

2. a small vibrating strip fixed to certain musical instruments so moving air can s

2.名詞B1
釋義

a small vibrating strip fixed to certain musical instruments so moving air can set it in motion and create a tone.

例句

Tamás fitted a fresh reed onto his clarinet before the lesson.

collocation: fit/replace a reed

The oboe player's reed cracked during the first piece.

文法句型

a reed

replace a reed

用法筆記

Players often say change, soak, trim, or break a reed. This sense names the vibrating strip itself, not the whole mouthpiece or the whole instrument.

常見錯誤

❌The clarinet needs a new mouthpiece
✅The clarinet needs a new reed.
💡Use 'reed' for the thin vibrating strip, not for the larger part that holds it.

3. a musical instrument, especially a woodwind one, that makes sound by using a vib

3.名詞B2
釋義

a musical instrument, especially a woodwind one, that makes sound by using a vibrating reed.

例句

Camila switched from flute to reeds when she joined the jazz band.

plural shorthand: play reeds

The teacher asked the reeds to begin the concert with a quiet chord.

collective: the reeds = reed section

同義詞
  • woodwind

    broader word that also includes instruments such as the flute, which do not use a reed

文法句型

a reed instrument

the reeds

用法筆記

Often heard in the plural in band or orchestra talk, where 'the reeds' means the reed section or the instruments in it. Use sense 2 for the vibrating piece itself.