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Definition of reading noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reading

noun
 
/ˈriːdɪŋ/
 
/ˈriːdɪŋ/
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    activity

  1. [uncountable] the activity of somebody who reads
    • My hobbies include reading and painting.
    • He needs more help with his reading.
    • Are you any good at map reading?
    • He enjoys reading and going to the cinema.
    • reading glasses (= worn when reading)
    • a reading lamp/light (= one that can be moved to shine light onto something that you are reading)
    • She has a reading knowledge of German (= she can understand written German).
    • reading on something After extensive reading on the subject she set to work on an article.
    • reading about something He's done a lot of reading about the history of the town.
    Extra Examples
    • She asked me about my reading habits.
    • I haven't had time to do much reading lately.
    • I need to get down to some serious reading.
    • In the holidays I'll get down to some serious reading.
    • My map-reading skills are not the best.
    Topics Hobbiesa1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • extensive
    • careful
    • close
    verb + reading
    • do
    • get down to
    reading + noun
    • material
    • matter
    • habits
    preposition
    • reading about
    • reading on
    See full entry
  2. [singular] an act of reading something
    • A closer (= more detailed) reading of the text reveals just how desperate he was feeling.
    • We are all expected to attend the reading of her will.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • extensive
    • careful
    • close
    verb + reading
    • do
    • get down to
    reading + noun
    • material
    • matter
    • habits
    preposition
    • reading about
    • reading on
    See full entry
  3. books/articles

  4. [uncountable] books, articles, etc. that are intended to be read
    • reading material
    • reading matter
    • a series of reading books for children
    • further reading (= at the end of a book, a list of other books that give more information about the same subject)
    • The report makes for interesting reading (= it is interesting to read)
    • The article is not exactly light reading (= it is serious and requires effort and concentration to understand).
    • reading for somebody/something His article should be compulsory reading for law students.
    • Her assigned reading for English class was ‘Great Expectations’.
    • reading on something a list of suggested reading on this topic
    Extra Examples
    • Their story makes compulsive reading.
    • The book is worthwhile reading for anyone interested in the Industrial Revolution.
    • Horror is hardly my idea of bedtime reading.
    • some light holiday reading
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • compelling
    • compulsive
    • fascinating
    verb + reading
    • be
    • make
    • make for
    reading + noun
    • list
    • comprehension
    See full entry
  5. way of understanding

  6. [countable] reading (of something) the particular way in which you understand a book, situation, etc. synonym interpretation
    • Those conclusions are based on a literal reading of the text.
    • My own reading of events is less optimistic.
    Extra Examples
    • her attentive and insightful reading of the manuscript
    • These paintings often invite an allegorical reading.
    • Longinus provides a sensitive reading of Sappho's poem.
    • He draws his morality from a literal reading of the Old Testament.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • allegorical
    • literal
    • insightful
    verb + reading
    • give
    • offer
    • provide
    See full entry
  7. measurement

  8. [countable] the amount or number shown on an instrument used for measuring something
    • Meter readings are taken every three months.
    Extra Examples
    • The dials were giving higher readings than we had expected.
    • Temperature readings were recorded throughout the day.
    • A reading of 25 or more is abnormally high.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • high
    • low
    • normal
    verb + reading
    • get
    • obtain
    • take
    preposition
    • readingof
    See full entry
  9. event

  10. [countable] an event at which something is read to an audience for entertainment; a piece of literature that is read at such an event
    • He was invited to give a poetry reading as part of the literary festival.
    • The evening ended with a reading from her latest novel.
    Extra Examples
    • The reading was given by Mrs Smith.
    • We met at a reading of his poetry.
    • I saw a staged reading of the new play ‘Light’.
    • Dickens gave many public readings from his works.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • public
    • staged
    • Bible
    verb + reading
    • give
    preposition
    • at a/​the reading
    • reading from
    • reading of
    See full entry
  11. from Bible

  12. [countable] a short section from a holy text that is read to people as part of a religious service
    • The reading today is from the Book of Daniel.
    • readings from the Koran
    Topics Religion and festivalsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • public
    • staged
    • Bible
    verb + reading
    • give
    preposition
    • at a/​the reading
    • reading from
    • reading of
    See full entry
  13. in parliament

  14. [countable] one of the stages during which a bill (= a proposal for a new law) must be discussed and accepted by a parliament before it can become law
    • The bill looks like it will be given a second reading.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • compelling
    • compulsive
    • fascinating
    verb + reading
    • be
    • make
    • make for
    reading + noun
    • list
    • comprehension
    See full entry
See reading in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee reading in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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