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单词 read
释义
read1 verbread2 noun
readread1 /riːd/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle read /red/) Entry menu
MENU FOR readread1 words/books2 find information3 read and speak4 music/maps etc5 computer6 understand something in a particular way7 have words on8 style of writing9 read something as/for something10 measuring11 at university12 take it as read (that)13 take something as read14 read between the lines15 read somebody’s mind/thoughts16 can read somebody like a book17 read somebody’s palm18 read somebody’s lips19 read my lips20 do you read me?21 well-read/widely-readPhrasal verbsread something backread for somethingread something into somethingread something outread something through/overread up on something
Word Origin
WORD ORIGINread1
Origin:
Old English rædan
Verb Table
VERB TABLE
read
Simple Form
PresentI, you, we, theyread
he, she, itreads
PastI, you, he, she, it, we, theyread
Present perfectI, you, we, theyhave read
he, she, ithas read
Past perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad read
FutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill read
Future perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have read
Continuous Form
PresentIam reading
he, she, itis reading
you, we, theyare reading
PastI, he, she, itwas reading
you, we, theywere reading
Present perfectI, you, we, theyhave been reading
he, she, ithas been reading
Past perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad been reading
FutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill be reading
Future perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have been reading
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • Read me Aunt Evelyn's letter while I cook dinner.
  • Always read the label before you wash your clothes.
  • Did you read about that terrible car crash?
  • Don't believe everything you read in the newspapers.
  • Good managers are usually able to read a situation quickly and take the right action.
  • Have you read Jean Martin's latest novel?
  • Have you read Stephen King's new book yet?
  • I can read Spanish but I can't speak it very well.
  • I learned to read music when I was taking piano lessons.
  • I was astonished to read that half of all sixteen year olds have experimented with drugs.
  • Jean can't read a word without her glasses on.
  • map reading
  • Men shouldn't be surprised if women read this behaviour as threatening.
  • My parents taught me how to read.
  • Oliver is reading philosophy at Oxford.
  • She learnt to read when she was only three years old.
  • She went on to read medicine at Edinburgh.
  • Someone came to read the electricity meter this morning.
  • Soon utility companies may be able to read your meter by computer.
  • The headline read: "Firefighters Save Girl From Flames."
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • Finally, it never hurts to wear our own love of reading on our sleeve.
  • I marveled at her physical beauty, wanting her to like me, to read to me, to even hold me.
  • I opened the seals as carefully as I could and read the file.
  • On the other hand, your readers might be bright and fully conscious of what they are reading.
  • On the way out I noticed a photograph of a benign-looking chap and read about his gifts to charity.
  • The Government is also to rush through a ban on fox hunting by holding the bill's second reading on December 18.
  • The judge had been reading the court file.
  • We can not help signing so long as there is another human being who needs to read the signs.
Thesaurus
THESAURUS
to look at and understand the words in a book, magazine, letter etc for interest, enjoyment, or study: · What book are you reading at the moment?· I usually read the newspaper on the way to work.
to turn the pages of a book, magazine etc quickly, looking for things that might interest you: · While I was waiting, I flicked through a magazine.· She was flipping through the pages of an encyclopedia.· Cunningham was leafing through a copy of the Financial Times at his desk amidst a cloud of cigar-smoke.
to spend time looking through a book, magazine etc without any clear purpose, looking for things that might interest you: · Would you like to browse through our holiday brochure?
to read something quickly to get the main ideas or find a particular piece of information: · I want you to skim through the article and write a short summary of it.· Tony scanned the menu for a vegetarian option.
to read something very carefully for a long time: · They spent weeks poring over guidebooks and planning their holiday.
to read something quickly and eagerly: · Her young fans devour her books.
to read short parts of something: · It’s a book you can dip into rather than read from cover to cover.
to read something long and boring: · He’s upstairs ploughing through financial reports.· I can’t possibly wade through all this.
to look quickly through information on the Internet, stopping to read what interests you: · He surfed the Net, looking for jobs.
Longman Language Activatorto read something
· Read the instructions carefully before you start.· Have you read Jean Martin's latest novel?· Don't believe everything you read in the newspapers.· She learnt to read when she was only three years old.read about · Did you read about that terrible car crash?read that · I was astonished to read that half of all sixteen year olds have experimented with drugs.read to somebody/read somebody something (=read something aloud, so that people can listen) · Our mother used to read to us every evening.· Read me Aunt Evelyn's letter while I cook dinner.
to read something and say the words so that people can hear it: read out something: · He opened the envelope and read out the name of the winner.read something out: · Read the numbers out and I'll write them down.read something out to somebody: · Sarah read the letter out to me.
to read something and say the words so everyone can hear it: read aloud/read out loud to: · After he went blind, she would read out loud to him from his favorite books.read aloud/read out loud from: · Sam read aloud from the note pinned to his door.read something aloud: · He picked up the letter and began to read it aloud.· The poem is intended to be read aloud.
to read something quickly
to read something quickly so that you get a general idea of what it is about: · I skimmed the newspaper but didn't see any report on the demonstration.skim through: · She didn't have much time so she just skimmed through the report before the meeting.
to read something quickly in order to find a particular piece of information: · She scanned the menu outside the restaurant, but decided it looked too expensive.scan something for something: · Robert scanned the lists for his name.
British /take a look at American to read something quickly to check that there are no mistakes or problems: · Would you mind having a look at this report for me?· I've had a quick look at the insurance contract and everything appears to be in order.· Take a look at these figures - our profits are not looking good.
to read only parts of something
to turn the pages of a book, magazine etc without reading much of it, looking for something interesting or useful: · She flicked through the guidebook, looking for somewhere to visit in the afternoon.· I began leafing through a magazine.· Gloria lay on her bed and idly thumbed through the pages of a travel brochure.
to read short parts of a book, magazine etc because you do not want to read the whole thing or because you are looking for a particular piece of information: · He had some books by his bed which he would dip into when he couldn't sleep.· This is a wonderful reference book to dip into for all sorts of fascinating information.
to turn the pages of a magazine or book, stopping to read parts that interest you: · I was browsing through a magazine at the station bookstall when I noticed Susan.
to read something carefully
to read something carefully especially in order to check every detail or find any mistakes: read through/over something: · It's important to read through your essay before you finally hand it in.· My professor read over my dissertation and said that he was very impressed with it.read something through/over: · I've finished writing the report - I've just got to read it through now.
to read something for a long time, very carefully, and with great interest: · He was sitting at his desk poring over old maps of the area.· Ian shook his head as he pored over the report.
to read something long or boring
British /plow through American to read all of something even though it takes a long time and is boring: · I ploughed through all the documents related to the case.· After plowing through so many huge textbooks it was a relief to pick up a novel again.
to read something that is very long and boring, or to read a lot of different pieces of writing such as letters, reports etc which together are long and boring to read: · We waded through a huge pile of applications, and finally selected six people to interview.· It's much easier to find the information on the Internet, rather than wading through piles of documents.
to read a lot about something
to read a lot about something or someone in order to find out about them: · I'll need to read up on the rules of the game if I'm going to referee.· Karen spent the summer reading up on the subjects she would be studying at college.
someone who reads a lot
also great/keen reader British someone who enjoys reading and reads a lot: · I was an avid reader as a child.· My grandchildren are great readers, so I always give them books for their birthday.voracious/avid reader of: · Along with being an expert in business law, Martin is a voracious reader of detective stories.
informal someone who spends a lot of time reading: · I was a real bookworm when I was a child.· an ideal gift for the bookworm in the family
someone who is well-read has read a lot of books, often the most important or famous books, and has learned a lot of information from them: · Charles was a well-read and highly educated man.well-read in: · Although Jack stopped his studies at 19, he was very well-read, especially in the classics.
the people who read a particular newspaper, book etc
someone who reads a particular newspaper, magazine, or a type of book: · The magazine needs to attract more young readers.· Her books appeal especially to women readers.· All Ms Atwood's readers will be delighted with her latest book.· The average reader of science-fiction is young and male.
all the people who read a particular book, magazine, or newspaper: · The newspaper now has a readership of more than 500,000.· These books are obviously written for a young readership.a broad/wide readership: · The magazine now hopes to attract a wider readership.
the number of people who buy and read a particular newspaper or magazine: a circulation of 500,000/1 million etc: · The local newspaper has a circulation of around 16,000.a small/large circulation: · It is a specialist journal with a relatively small circulation.
able to read
· Tom could read by the age of four.· Very few people in the rural areas can read or write.
someone who is literate can read and write - use this about adults or older children: · Over the last hundred years, people have become healthier, more literate, and better educated.· Every student should be literate by the time he or she leaves primary school.
someone, usually a child who can read well: · Children are expected to be competent readers by the time they leave this class.· Good readers tend to be better at spelling than other children.
the fact of being able to read - use this especially to talk about how many people in a society can read and in educational contexts: · Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world (=more people can read there than anywhere else in the world)).· Literacy levels amongst girls very quickly overtook those of boys.· She runs a project called 'Forward to Literary'.· special classes in basic skills such as literacy and numeracy
not able to read
to be unable to read at all: · A new report says that 25% of all 7-year-olds cannot read.· Jim couldn't read at all until he was fifteen.· It was not until I had lived with her for a year that I realized she couldn't read.
someone who is illiterate cannot read or write - use this about adults or older children: · His father was an illiterate farm worker.· If 70% of the population is illiterate, how do people know who they are voting for?
someone, especially a child, who can read, but not very well: · At first Katy was a slow reader, but now she reads all the time.· At the end of the day the teacher does half an hour's extra work with the slow readers.
the fact of being not able to read - use this especially to talk about how many people in a society cannot read: · Illiteracy rates among women in many countries are a serious cause for concern.· a society struggling to overcome poverty and illiteracy· The government has given extra funding to help tackle illiteracy in the inner cities.
easy to read
written clearly enough for you to read: · Is the date on the coin still legible?· Her writing was so tiny that it was barely legible.
difficult or impossible to read
especially spoken use this to say that you are unable to read someone's writing: · I can't read the next word.· She couldn't read the name on the envelope.
informal use this to say that you are unable to read a particular word because it is not written clearly: · I couldn't make out the name at the bottom of the letter.
writing that is illegible is impossible to read because it is not written clearly: · I don't know what this note says - Dad's handwriting is totally illegible!· The label had got wet and was now illegible.
writing that is indecipherable is impossible to read because it is very untidy, very unclear, or is in a language you do not understand: · The painting had an indecipherable signature in the corner.· His writing was tiny and indecipherable.· I received a blurred, indecipherable fax that didn't help at all.
writing that is unreadable is impossible to read because it is very untidy or unclear: · The photocopy was poorly produced and almost unreadable.
something that someone has written in a very untidy way which is very difficult to read: · I couldn't read the doctor's scrawl.· I kept a diary then -- pages and pages of tiny scrawl.
enjoyable or interesting to read
easy and interesting or enjoyable to read: · This is a well-written and readable introduction to the subject of linguistics.· Her articles are always readable and informative.
something that is well-written has been written in a good, clear style that makes it enjoyable or interesting to read: · The article was well written, informative and enjoyable.· This is a clever and well-written play.· Well-written notes are as good as any textbook and easier to absorb.
a book or piece of writing that is worth reading is good enough or interesting enough to make you want to read it: · Have you seen Amis' latest book? It's worth reading.be well worth reading: · It's an interesting book, and well worth reading.
if you say that something makes interesting reading , you mean that it is interesting to read because it contains new or surprising information: · The story of their journey makes interesting reading.· The latest report on educational standards in our schools makes very interesting reading.
informal if a book is a good read , it is enjoyable - use this when giving your opinion about a novel etc: · Her latest book is clever, funny, and well-written - a very good read.
spoken a book that has an interesting or exciting story that makes you want to continue reading it to find out what happens next: · Stephen King's latest novel is, as usual, a real page-turner.
informal use this to talk about a book that is so interesting and exciting that you do not want to stop reading it until you get to the end: · "Unputdownable", raved the literary critic Helen Jewson, "I read it at one sitting".· This book might be an unputdownable expose of London's underworld, but its moral message is highly dubious.
not enjoyable to read
something that is unreadable is not enjoyable to read because it is not written in an interesting way: · The text was dense and unreadable.· The inclusion of so many figures and statistics makes the article virtually unreadable.
if something is badly written it is not enjoyable to read because the style of the writing is not good: · The book was so badly written that I didn't get further than the first chapter.· The report was inaccurate and badly written.
to believe that something has a particular meaning
to choose to believe that what someone says or does has a particular meaning, especially if it is not easy to understand or is not completely clear: · How would you interpret her letter? Is she really hostile or just being ironic?· This dream can be interpreted in several different ways.interpret something as something: · I interpreted her silence as anger.· They are worried that the workers might interpret the new law as a restriction of their rights.
to think that something has a particular meaning even though you cannot be completely sure that this is what it means: · Democracy was originally understood to mean the people governing themselves.· The Victorians understood "The environment" to mean the background to human activity, in particular, industrial activity.
to think that something has a meaning that it does not in fact have, especially by thinking that it is more important than it really is: read something into something: · Be careful not to read your own modern opinions into this story.· The statement criticized journalists for reading too much into what he had said about the war.read into something something: · Some critics have read into the more macabre scenes a subconscious hatred of his parents.
to believe that what someone does or says has a particular meaning, especially if you think it shows their attitude towards you: take something as an insult/compliment/criticism etc: · Had he spoken like this to anyone else, it would have been taken as an insult.· I take it as a compliment when my students ask questions after class.take something as a sign/signal etc: · The investors took this interest rate cut as a sign that the Government was desperate.
formal to think that something is true because another fact makes it seem likely, even though it does not prove it completely: · From this, astronomers can infer the presence of many more "black holes".infer (from something) that: · It seems reasonable to infer that the cause was not sabotage but a simple accident.· We can infer from the archaeological evidence that there was slavery in Carthage.
to guess the real meaning of something by thinking very carefully and noticing that the meaning is different from what it at first seems to be: · Perseverance is required to understand the story and you have to read between the lines to find the book's full meaning.reading between the lines (=used to say what you think the real situation is): · Reading between the lines, I don't think they want to train people who might soon leave the company.
to measure something
to find out the size or amount of something, by using a special tool, machine, or system: · Can you measure the desk to see if it'll fit into that corner?· The GNP figures measure the rate of growth in the economy.· Electrodes were attached to his chest in order to measure his heart rate.measure something at something: · Seismologists in Japan measured the earthquake at 7.7 on the Richter scale.· Some species of python have been measured at over 28 feet long.
to find out how heavy something is by measuring its weight with special equipment: · Weigh all the ingredients carefully before mixing them together.weigh yourself: · Every time I weigh myself I seem to have got heavier!
to measure how long it takes for someone to do something or for something to happen: · We timed how long it took us to get there.· The swimming teacher always times us over 100 metres.be timed at 20 miles per hour/3 minutes etc: · The fastest big cat, the cheetah, has been timed at over 60 mph.
to measure how hot someone is, how fast their heart is beating etc, as part of a medical examination: take somebody's pulse/temperature/blood pressure: · My mother took my temperature and sent me back to bed.· The doctor will take your blood pressure and check your weight.
to look at the number or result that a piece of equipment is showing when you are using it to measure something: · Someone came to read the electricity meter this morning.· The nurse read the thermometer and told me that my temperature was normal.
use this when a number or result often changes: · Scientists took readings over several weeks and found that there was no unusual volcanic activity.
to measure how much of something such as gas, water, or electricity is used, so that the companies supplying the gas etc know how much their customers should pay: · The gas is metered and they send you a bill every three months.· They've introduced a system of metering the amount of water used in a household.
to guess or judge in advance how much something will measure, use, cost etc, according to all the things that affect it: · Recent polls have gauged the president's support at 85% or more.gauge how many/how much etc: · When all the figures are available, it should be possible to gauge how much we'll need to spend.
to measure the size, speed etc of something and keep the information so that it can be used later: · Police recorded his speed at 99.04 miles per hour.· Last year the company recorded a profit of £1.4 million.
formal to measure something and express it as a number or amount, so that it can be counted and compared to other amounts: · Just quantifying your financial goals will make you feel more in control of your future.· In the UK, the operation will not be performed until the risks are better understood and quantified.difficult/hard/impossible etc to quantify: · It's difficult to quantify how long it will take to finish the project.
to study something at school, university etc
to learn about a subject by reading books, going to classes etc: · It's difficult to study when the weather's so hot.· I've been studying English for six years now.· His parents sent him to Moscow to study physics, chemistry, and mathematics.· If you study hard, you'll be able to get into a good university.study to be something: · She's at business school, studying to be an accountant.study under (=receive lessons from a famous teacher): · Nicoll was himself a noted psychologist and studied under Jung in Zurich.
to study a subject - use this to talk about subjects that you choose to study at school, college, university etc: · What classes are you taking next semester?· In my final year, I decided to take English, French, and economics.· All freshmen have to take at least one composition course.
British informal to study a particular subject at school or university: · I can't decide whether to do German or Spanish next year.· Did you do computing at school?do a course: · Why not do a language course at your local college?
American to study something as your main subject at a college or university: · What are you majoring in?· Diane majored in psychology at the University of Washington.
American if you minor in a subject, it is the second most important subject you study at a college or university: · I'm planning to study computer science, but I still might minor in English.
also have lessons British to pay for lessons from a teacher in order to study a subject or skill in your free time: · My mother wants me to take violin lessons.· I'm having Spanish lessons after work.take lessons in: · Students at the school can even take lessons in golf.
British formal to study a subject at university: · Oliver is reading philosophy at Oxford.· She went on to read medicine at Edinburgh.
British an offer or opportunity to study as a student at a particular school, college, or university: · Studies show that students from wealthier backgrounds are more likely to be offered places at high-achieving schools.have/get a place (at): · Jenny has a place to study law at Exeter this year.· If I get a place at Manchester, I'll take it.
to tell someone off very angrily or loudly
informal to shout at someone and make them suffer for doing something wrong: · I'd better go. My wife will give me hell if I'm late home again.· Caroline would give me hell for evermore if she thought I'd mistreated her best friend.
especially American to shout at or talk angrily to someone because they have done something wrong or annoying: · It was so embarrassing - he just started yelling at his wife.get yelled at spoken: · I got yelled at at school because I was wearing the wrong shirt.
American informal to talk very angrily to someone for a long time about something wrong that they have done: chew somebody out: · Even his mother used to chew him out in public.chew out somebody: · The Senate science and space subcommittee chewed out NASA for failing to conduct the necessary tests.chew somebody out for something/chew out somebody for something: · The boss called Diane into his office and chewed her out for losing the Thurman account.
informal to tell someone off and warn them about what will happen if they continue with their bad behaviour: · They'll read him the riot act if he ever shows his face again.
to tell someone off, especially in a way that makes them look stupid: give sb a dressing down for: · Elise was delighted I rang, but gave me a terrible dressing down for not ringing before or sending a postcard.
British informal to tell someone off by shouting at them. These are rude phrases: · Being bollocked by your daughter is a bit hard to take.bollock sb/give sb a bollocking for: · My dad gave me a real bollocking for crashing his car.
to understand the meaning of something in a particular way
to believe that something strange, difficult, or unusual has a particular meaning: · Have you read Dawson's letter? What do you make of it?· Tom could see that McCarron didn't know what to make of the information.
to think that a remark, an action, an event etc shows that someone has a particular opinion or feeling even though they do not say this directly: · Good managers are usually able to read a situation quickly and take the right action.read something as something: · Men shouldn't be surprised if women read this behaviour as threatening.
to choose to understand a particular meaning in someone's words or actions without being sure that this is the correct meaning: · There was a pause, which he took to mean she was angry.· Television producers should not take low ratings to mean failure.
to understand a remark, a piece of writing, an event etc as having a particular meaning, especially because of your own feelings, opinions, or situation: · I see this poem as an attack on social injustice.· Young children often see the birth of a new brother or sister as a great threat.
to choose to understand a piece of information or group of facts in one of several possible ways: · Fairy tales can be interpreted in several different ways.interpret something as something: · The statement was interpreted as a threat against the United States.
to find a particular meaning in an expression or in the name of something, even though other people may understand it differently: · What do you understand by the term "alternative medicine"?· He spoke of profits, by which I understood profits for his company, not for us.
to think that someone's remarks, a word, a piece of writing etc means something or has a particular message, even though this is not stated directly: · "It's very good. You'll like it," their mother said, and gave them a look that they understood to mean they must eat it whether they liked it or not.
formal to understand a remark or action in a particular way, when there are other possible ways of understanding it: · Such activities by the Americans could be construed as an act of war.· Films that could be construed as offensive are shown after nine o'clock.
WORD SETS
AA, nounacademia, nounacademic, adjectiveacademic, nounacademy, nounalum, nounalumna, nounalumni, nounalumnus, nounassistant professor, nounAssociate of Arts, nounassociate professor, nounaudit, verbBA, nounbachelor's degree, nounBig Man on Campus, nounblue book, nounbrother, nounBSc, nounbursar, nounbursary, nouncampus, nounCantab, chair, nounchancellery, nounchancellor, nounclass, nouncoed, nouncommencement, nouncommunity college, nounconservatoire, nounconservatory, nounconvocation, nouncourse, nouncredit, nouncum laude, adverbdean, noundean's list, noundiploma, noundissertation, noundoctor, noundoctoral, adjectivedoctorate, nounDoctor of Philosophy, noundon, noundorm, noundormitory, noundouble first, noundown, adverbelective, nounexaminer, nounextension, nounextramural, adjectivefaculty, nounfinancial aid, nounfirst class, noungrad, noungrad school, noungraduate, noungraduate, verbgraduate, adjectivegraduate school, noungraduation, nounGRE, nounGreek, nounhall, nounhall of residence, nounhaze, verbhigher education, nounhomecoming, nounhonor roll, nounhonours degree, nounintercollegiate, adjectiveintramural, adjectiveIvy League, the, adjectivejoint honours, nounjunior college, nounlectureship, nounLLB, nounLLD, nounLLM, nounMA, nounmagna cum laude, adjectivemajor, nounMaster of Arts, nounMaster of Science, nounmaster's, nounmaster's degree, nounmatriculate, verbmature student, nounMBA, nounMEd, nounmedic, nounmedical school, nounMFA, nounmidterm, nounMilitary Academy, nounminor, nounMLitt, nounmortarboard, nounMPhil, nounM.Sc., nounOpen University, the, option, nounoral, nounOxbridge, nounPhD, nounPhi Beta Kappa, nounpledge, nounpledge, verbpoly, nounpolytechnic, nounpost doctoral, adjectivepost-grad, nounpostgraduate, nounpostgraduate, adjectivepractical, nounprof, nounprofessor, nounprofessorial, adjectiveprofessorship, nounProvost, nounqualified, adjectivequarter, nounrag, nounread, verbreadership, nounredbrick, adjectiverush, verbrush, nounsandwich course, nounschool, nounsemester, nounseminar, nounseminary, nounsenate, nounsenior, nounsingle honours, nounsophomore, nounsorority, nounspring break, nounstate university, nounstudent union, nounsubject, nounsumma cum laude, adverbsummer school, nounsurvey course, nounsyllabus, nountech, nountechnical college, nountenure, nountermly, adjectivetertiary education, nountheological college, nounthesis, nounthird, nounthird class, nountutor, nountutorial, nountutorial, adjective2.1, nountwo-two, nounU., undergraduate, noununi, nounUniv., university, nounupperclassman, nounupperclasswoman, nounvac, nounvacation, nounvarsity, nounvice-chancellor, nounvisiting professor, noun
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
 Her books are quite widely read (=read by a lot of people).
 When I was young, I read every one of his books from cover to cover (=read all of something because you are very interested).
 He glanced at the letter and began to read it aloud.
(=understand something correctly) He had accurately read the mood of the nation.
 I think in general the report reads well.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
· Have you read his account of the journey?
 Joanne, would you read the poem aloud?
· It was good to see such an intelligent article on censorship.
· What book are you reading at the moment?
· I haven’t even read the first chapter yet.
(=a direction shown by a compass)· We took a compass bearing to ensure we were walking in the right direction.
 ‘Gardening World’ is compulsive viewing for gardeners.
(=read a book, magazine etc very thoroughly)· He read it from cover to cover in less than three hours.
· I wish you’d let me read your diary.
· It took most of the morning to read my emails.
· Did you read her essay on ‘The Waste Land’?
· The journal is essential reading for doctors.
(=understand how someone is feeling by looking at their expression)· In the half light, Ellen could not read his expression.
(=it shows something)· The petrol gauge read empty.
(=for reading)· She looked at him over the frames of her reading glasses.
· I’m afraid I find it very difficult to read your handwriting.
· I just read the main headlines.
(=the headlines say something)· The next morning’s headlines read: ‘Moors Search for Missing Boys’.
· Always read the instructions before switching on the machine.
· May I read her letter?
 It’s a really good book if you want a bit of light reading.
· The first thing he did was read his mail.
(=look at and understand the information on a map)· He drove while I read the map.
 Videos often make good teaching material.
· Sandy read the menu, but didn’t see anything he wanted to eat.
· Which newspaper do you read?
· I saw in the newspaper that he had died.
· I read through my notes before the exam.
(=when poems are read to people, usually by the writer)· I used to like giving poetry readings.
(=to understand signals correctly)· President Nixon read the signals and decided it was time to resign.
· Their reading skills are poor.
 Always read the small print before you sign anything.
· She read a lot of detective stories.
(=assume that something is correct or certain, because you are sure that this is the case) It isn’t official yet, but you can take it as read that you’ve got the contract.
· I didn’t do very well in the listening test.
 Anne has always read voraciously.
 Kerry could read and write when she was five.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· Licensed dealers still deal in certain shares the punter reads about in the tip sheets.· You read about them in National Geographic.· So the following six months to a year I spent the time abroad walking and seeing the places I had read about.· Also, he seemed to remember reading about stolen jewels.· Perhaps she had acknowledged his wartime exploits, up there in his Spitfire inflicting those severe losses she had read about.· He enjoyed reading about military history and adventure stories.· The maximum is 74 minutes which is, therefore, the maximum time available to read about 650 megabytes of data.· Places you see pictures of and read about.
· So one can not say that grapheme-phoneme conversion is the way non-words are read aloud.· She changed her mind about reading aloud to Irene, who was looking at her, she felt, skeptically.· The paragraph can be first written, then corrected, and then read aloud.· Maryellen reads aloud the sign on the wall.· Some reading requires quiet and calm; some reading cries out to be shared, perhaps to be read aloud.· We spent a few evenings reading aloud these books.· He was reading aloud from Sara's Alan Coren collection.· Justin sat in a chair at the front of the class and read aloud from Bears on Hemlock Mountain.
· As the scores were read out like a football draw it became clear that it would be a close contest.· An Illustration: NETtalk NETtaik4 is a program that teaches itself to read out loud.· ERROR-RETURN-DETAIL/ - is a return parameter providing a report of the errors encountered during the attempt to read out the requested modules.· Lacan gives us a way of reading out both.· They'd been read out in court.· With an official manner, a man loudly read out her crime for the crowd to hear.· They are more like a succession of monologues read out before a dismally empty assembly.· But then at 11.10, there was the result being read out, live, by the Torbay returning officer.
NOUN
· After some fumbling I had managed to read my first article by Julie Bitchkill.· I read your article and would love to talk to you.· He started reading an article about the lifestyle of the rich and famous.· A senior manager read one of the articles and promptly promoted the marketing manager to a position as his assistant.· Having read the article, I admit that aspects of it caused my eyebrows to rise.· David Klugman remembers his anger after reading the article.· Listen to talks - read articles - then jot down a few headings on what message is being conveyed.· I read your article on NaviPress and it looks like a great way to start a home page.
· His books are still read, though more now for the nostalgia they generate than for their real-world relevance.· If no one involved with a book has read it properly, why should the public bother?· She had lists and lists of books to read.· I thought about all the books I had read in the past and remembered one in particular which I had enjoyed immensely.· So does toilet tissue, which makes you wonder where a book is being read.· Anyway, Alan needed his sleep, he had books to read, plans to draw, and essays to write.· And children often have to write about every book they read.
· During the midday meal the older children read edifying passages chosen by Nicholas from religious or secular history.· Some children will pretend to read while others attend to the print.· Many of the children probably could not read or write.· All you have to do, it seems, is teach a child to read.· This form is widely - though by no means universally - adopted in writing text for young children to read.· The important thing is that children learn to read with confidence, understanding and pleasure.· I wish my child would read different, better, more advanced books.
· He wanted to read books and the letters his many friends sent him.· Wade read the letter through again, then lay back and watched the snow slanting across the yellow firelight.· For some one whose knees shook when she tried to read a letter to her classmates, the training was more than useful.· She watched Léonie finish reading the letter.· I was able to turn away from all the staring faces and simply read my letter.· Peter read the letter twice before its meaning sank in.· Gwenellen was at tea, and reading a letter she had had from Aline by the second post.
· It was quite half an hour before he gave a sigh and settled down again to reading his magazine.· I used to send my songs off to outfits in Hollywood that I had read about in magazines.· Then I get up and read the papers and magazines.· His interest in the business grew after reading trade magazines and other material about the business.· She read it in a magazine.· He follows the auctions and reads the auction magazines.· I guess you read one porno magazine and the second one is just the same.· They are reading books and magazines.
· Surely he hadn't somehow read her mind and shared that foolish thought that stress and tiredness had put into her head?· She knows he can read her mind, she knows her thoughts are open to him.· He might have been rather less relieved if he could have read her mind.· It may respond to voice commands or it may read minds.· He had read her mind with perfect accuracy.
· He was reading a newspaper, apparently oblivious to the contribution he was making to the traffic chaos.· But it has been shrinking steadily in terms of the percentage of the population reading a daily newspaper.· Vargas sat in the corner drinking coffee and reading a newspaper.· I think of a starving boy I read about in the newspaper.· They only realised he was autistic after reading a newspaper article on the symptoms.· The description, which I had read in a recent newspaper account, had struck me as infinitely ironic and strange.· Normally he never read a newspaper or listened to the radio.
· Characters and their philosophies can be cobbled together from Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift and a reading of contemporary papers.· Down the block the neighborhood dead-ended in abandoned farmland that Mami read in the local paper the developers were negotiating to buy.· In 1945 most people read a broadsheet paper - four populars and the two qualities, compared with two tabloids.· One grunt in the Far East read one of my papers.· Everybody stopped reading the music papers and switched to Smash Hits.· Five years from now you are not going to be able to remember the book you read for a term paper.· But Conservative and Labour partisans who disagreed about the bias in their daily papers were reading different papers.· Jody reads the paper and winces.
· He sat at his desk, reading reports but not taking in what he read.· But reading the reports can provide reassurance that nothing was held back.· But, Father, you only read the medical reports.· They will not be reading the reports released by blue-ribbon commissions.· How well a company performs is judged by customers at the point of sale, not by reading financial reports.· Just reading these late census reports and it shows that the small town is passing.· She watched him as he read the report.· After reading the reports and deciding that her dream car is too expensive, our consumer decides to buy jewelry.
· You have no authority to read stories like that.· You go upstairs and read Campbell a story before she goes to sleep.· Even so, I locked myself in the bathroom where I could read the story slowly and without fear of interruption.· People read the story and laughed.· I tried once to get out of reading him a story.· Then Aunt Branwell read her a story from the Bible, and I forgot about it.· A few who do not dare to read aloud will ask the ones who do to read their stories too.
· Perhaps they don't read the text books.· How much more fulfilling it is to meet a genre by having our parents read from many different texts.· In terms of the principles involved, we could be talking here about playing chess or reading a page of text.· To do this you can read texts, making systematic changes of person, tense, and vocabulary items.· The crucial thing to remember is that at no cost do we want our children to read without understanding a text.· Shortly afterwards Villepin called Jospin's chief adviser, Olivier Schrameck, to read out the full text to him.· You read the text by placing a hand-shaped cursor on to the document window.
· She did not read his thoughts or hear him talking in his sleep.· You could almost read Horton's thoughts as the chances kept going by.· If he had been able to read my thoughts, he would have been disgusted.· He seemed to read my thoughts.· I read your thoughts and letters weeks ago.· But I can't read your thoughts.· In the first instance, more reading and thought will be necessary in order to satisfactorily cover the topics.
· Rachaela could only read the words Come to me.· I wonder if Lincoln had read those words when he presented the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet.· Proofreading means reading each word of your work carefully and also making sure the layout is right.· These and other strategies encourage Evan to read the words on the page.· When she read the first word, J O E, her heart gave a great leap.· I can read the notes and words as I sing.· It had a red and yellow band on which I could just read the word Cubana.· At that time, I could not see or read the words.
VERB
· The processes of learning to read and reading with competence an concerned essentially with developing intellectually skills and abilities.· On the first day, the woman, whose name was Fania, had expressed a strong desire to learn to read.· I learned to read the galley proofs and familiarised myself with printers' hieroglyphics.· The next spring, Callie learned to read.· It is not until women learn to read that they internalize the masculine schema.· This marks a huge step in the process of learning to read.· A model prisoner, he learned to read and write, even publishing a small book of poetry.· Over the years you learn to read the plays, see the way the game develops.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► read something as/for something
  • Let us take it as read that Hawkwind started quite a few trends in their time.
  • Let us take it as read that Hawkwind started quite a few trends in their time.
  • Reading between the lines, I don't think they want to train people who might soon leave the company.
  • Perseverance is required to understand the story and you have to read between the lines to find the book's full meaning.
  • While Anderson did not say directly that changes needed to be made, it was easy to read between the lines.
  • Although the financial side is far from the whole story, you can usually read between the lines very clearly.
  • Frequently it is necessary to read between the lines.
  • Harriet, reading between the lines, knew exactly what her daughter meant.
  • Jody goes over the two faxes again, this time slowly, trying to read between the lines.
  • Perseverance is required to understand the story and one had to read between the lines to find the book's full meaning.
  • Simon presents his story in a typically heroic manner, so I have to read between the lines.
  • So beware: if we were able to read between the lines that easily, so too can your family and friends!
  • You will use your powers of anticipation and imagination to read between the lines, to understand message and meaning.
  • Don't expect your spouse to be able to read your mind.
  • I can read you like a book - some book I've read six times already.
► read somebody’s palm► read somebody’s lips► read my lips
  • I do not want this to happen again! Do you read me?
► well-read/widely-readPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
  • Armed with the knowledge gleaned from reading matter and known computer buffs I travelled far and wide.
  • But they also noted whether there was reading matter in the house.
  • I was grateful for the information you conveyed regarding Heather's reading matter on Rhodes.
  • The noble Lord is not, you understand a personal friend of mine: just my current reading matter.
  • There were also other changes, such as in available reading matter.
  • Thus the best libretto ever written for the best opera ever written is scarcely tolerable as reading matter.
  • Typographer a specialist in the design of printed matter, and in particular the art of typography.
  • Typography the design and planning of printed matter using type.
► a must-have/must-see/must-read etc► you only have to read/look at/listen to etc something
  • Everything I had read before turned out to be outdated.
  • He comes up to my room in the evenings so that I can read them out to him.
  • He read it out loud to his colleagues, quite sarcastically, expecting them to agree that it was ridiculous.
  • He shouts her out into the street for a harlot.
  • Laura listened attentively while Yoyo read the speech out loud, and in the end, her eyes were glistening too.
  • North read it out at his trial four years later as evidence of approval, but it was all delightfully vague.
  • She brings her notes about it to the meeting and reads them out.
  • We can read the books children are reading, find out what happens in class, ask what the guidance counselor said.
► read somebody’s palm
  • On one level, it is vastly entertaining and a rattling good read.
  • We bet the Weatherfield Advertiser was a rattling good read under Ken's editorship.
  • Stephanie read Ted the riot act for seeing his old girlfriend.
  • But he was walking to a truck stop across the street, probably getting something to eat during his break.
  • It had something to do with being a man.
  • It had something to do with skills, and something to do with expectation and hope.
  • Most calendar programs remind you gently when you have something to do.
  • No, you can't dash out for something to eat.
  • Of course, the beer might have had something to do with this.
  • Then I rolled up my things in a blanket and went out and had something to eat.
  • You've done it a thousand times already, but you do it again, just for something to do.
  • But even though his book was intended for contemplatives, it was also widely read by lay men and women.
  • But he was one of the most well-informed, widely read and serious political figures in public life.
  • For all its note of fantasy, however, the article was widely read and well timed.
  • Herbert is widely read, where Collins is seldom even heard of.
  • Local newspapers are widely read and relatively cheap to advertise in.
  • Newspapers with a significant political reporting are not widely read, whereas television news programs are often among the most-watched programs.
  • The older works listed first are still widely read and most are generally available in both hardcover and paperback.
Word family
WORD FAMILYnounreadreaderreadershipreadingreadabilityadjectivereadable ≠ unreadableverbread
1words/books [intransitive, transitive] to look at written words and understand what they mean:  I can’t read your writing. She picked up the letter and read it. Read the instructions carefully before you start. children who are just learning to read and write Her books are quite widely read (=read by a lot of people). When I was young, I read every one of his books from cover to cover (=read all of something because you are very interested).2find information [intransitive, transitive not in progressive] to find out information from books, newspapers etc:  You can’t believe everything you read in the papers.read about Did you read about what happened to that guy in Florida?read of I was shocked when I read of his death.read (that) I read last week that the disease is on the increase.3read and speak [intransitive, transitive] to say the words in a book, newspaper etc so that people can hear themread somebody something Daddy, will you read me a story?read (something) to somebody Our mother reads to us every evening. Teachers should read more poetry to children. He glanced at the letter and began to read it aloud.4music/maps etc [transitive] to look at signs or pictures and understand what they mean:  He plays the violin very well but can’t actually read music. Are you any good at map reading?5computer [transitive] technical if a computer can read a disk, it can take the information that is on the disk and put it into its memory6understand something in a particular way [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to understand a situation, remark etc in one of several possible ways SYN  interpret:  I wasn’t sure how to read his silence.read something as something She shook her head, and I read this as a refusal. The poem can be read as a protest against war.read something well/accurately (=understand something correctly) He had accurately read the mood of the nation.7have words on [transitive not in progressive] used to say what words are on a sign, in a letter etc SYN  say:  A sign on the outer door read: ‘No Entry’.8style of writing [intransitive] if something reads well, badly etc, it has been written well, badly etc:  I think in general the report reads well.9read something as/for something to replace one word or number with another one, usually with the correct one:  Please read £50 as £15. For ‘November’ (=instead of November) on line 6, read ‘September’.10measuring [transitive] a)to look at the number or amount shown on a measuring instrument:  Someone should be coming to read the gas meter. b)if a measuring instrument reads a particular number, it shows that number:  The thermometer read 46 degrees.11at university [intransitive, transitive] British English to study a subject at a university:  I read history at Cambridge.read for He wants to read for a law degree.RegisterIn everyday British English, people usually say that someone does a subject at university:· I did history at Cambridge.· He wants to do a law degree.12take it as read (that) especially British English to feel certain that something is true although no one has told you it is true SYN  assume:  You can take it as read that we will support the project.13take something as read to accept that a report or statement is correct without reading it or discussing it:  We’ll take the secretary’s report as read.14read between the lines to guess someone’s real feelings from something they say or write, when they do not tell you directly:  Reading between the lines, I’d say Robert’s not very happy.15read somebody’s mind/thoughts to guess what someone else is thinking:  ‘Want some coffee?’ ‘You read my mind.’16can read somebody like a book if you can read someone like a book, you know them so well that you immediately know what they are thinking or feeling17read somebody’s palm to look carefully at someone’s hand, in order to find out about their future18read somebody’s lips to understand what someone is saying by watching the way their lips move. People who cannot hear do this. → lip-read19read my lips spoken used to tell someone that you really mean what you are saying:  Read my lips: I will not let you down.20do you read me? spoken used to ask someone whether they can hear you when you are speaking to them by radio21well-read/widely-read someone who is well-read has read a lot of books and knows a lot about many subjects:  She is intelligent and extremely well-read. → reading, → read (somebody) the riot act at riot1(4)GRAMMAR: Patterns with readread something in something• You read something in a book, newspaper, magazine etc: · I read the interview in the newspaper. ✗Don’t say: read something on a book, newspaper, magazine etc• You read something in a particular chapter of a book, or in the introduction: · In this chapter you can read about different types of diet.• You read something in the instructions or in a recipe: · I read in the instructions that you are supposed to boil the pasta for six minutes.read something on something• You read something on the Internet or on a website: · She read the story on the Internet.• You read something on a page: · You can read about his life story on page 12.• You read something on a train, bus, plane etc: · I like reading on the train – it helps to pass the time. ✗Don’t say: read something in a train, bus, plane etcTHESAURUSread to look at and understand the words in a book, magazine, letter etc for interest, enjoyment, or study: · What book are you reading at the moment?· I usually read the newspaper on the way to work.flick/flip/leaf through something to turn the pages of a book, magazine etc quickly, looking for things that might interest you: · While I was waiting, I flicked through a magazine.· She was flipping through the pages of an encyclopedia.· Cunningham was leafing through a copy of the Financial Times at his desk amidst a cloud of cigar-smoke.browse through something to spend time looking through a book, magazine etc without any clear purpose, looking for things that might interest you: · Would you like to browse through our holiday brochure?skim/scan (through) something to read something quickly to get the main ideas or find a particular piece of information: · I want you to skim through the article and write a short summary of it.· Tony scanned the menu for a vegetarian option.pore over something to read something very carefully for a long time: · They spent weeks poring over guidebooks and planning their holiday.devour something /dɪˈvaʊə $ -ˈvaʊr/ to read something quickly and eagerly: · Her young fans devour her books.dip into something to read short parts of something: · It’s a book you can dip into rather than read from cover to cover.plough/wade through something to read something long and boring: · He’s upstairs ploughing through financial reports.· I can’t possibly wade through all this.surf the Net/Internet/Web to look quickly through information on the Internet, stopping to read what interests you: · He surfed the Net, looking for jobs.read something ↔ back phrasal verb to read out loud something that you have just written downread back to Can you read that last bit back to me?read for something phrasal verb to say some of the words that are said by a particular character in a play, as a test of your ability to actread something into something phrasal verb to think that a situation, action etc has a meaning or importance that it does not really have:  It was only a casual remark. I think you’re reading too much into it.read something ↔ out phrasal verb to read and say words that are written down, so that people can hear:  Why don’t you read out the name of the winner?read out to He read the last few sentences out to me.read something ↔ through/over phrasal verb to read something carefully from beginning to end in order to check details or find mistakes SYN  check over/through:  Read the contract over carefully before you sign it. Spend a couple of minutes just reading through your essay.read up on something (also read something ↔ up British English) phrasal verb to read a lot about something because you will need to know about it:  You’ll enjoy traveling more if you read up on the history of the countries you’ll be visiting.
read1 verbread2 noun
readread2 noun [singular] informal Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • Children are taught reading and writing in their first years at school.
  • I do a lot of reading when I'm on vacation.
  • The newspaper is trying to attract more young readers.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • A careful read of this book will show that underpinning it is a terrible truth.
  • I would like to recommend it to both sexes as a jolly exciting read.
  • It is certainly worth a good read, and I can recommend it to anyone interested in this subject.
  • Not even the most unreconstructed Keynesian would ever claim that the General Theory was an easy read.
  • On one level, it is vastly entertaining and a rattling good read.
Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatorto read something
· Read the instructions carefully before you start.· Have you read Jean Martin's latest novel?· Don't believe everything you read in the newspapers.· She learnt to read when she was only three years old.read about · Did you read about that terrible car crash?read that · I was astonished to read that half of all sixteen year olds have experimented with drugs.read to somebody/read somebody something (=read something aloud, so that people can listen) · Our mother used to read to us every evening.· Read me Aunt Evelyn's letter while I cook dinner.
to read something and say the words so that people can hear it: read out something: · He opened the envelope and read out the name of the winner.read something out: · Read the numbers out and I'll write them down.read something out to somebody: · Sarah read the letter out to me.
to read something and say the words so everyone can hear it: read aloud/read out loud to: · After he went blind, she would read out loud to him from his favorite books.read aloud/read out loud from: · Sam read aloud from the note pinned to his door.read something aloud: · He picked up the letter and began to read it aloud.· The poem is intended to be read aloud.
to read something quickly
to read something quickly so that you get a general idea of what it is about: · I skimmed the newspaper but didn't see any report on the demonstration.skim through: · She didn't have much time so she just skimmed through the report before the meeting.
to read something quickly in order to find a particular piece of information: · She scanned the menu outside the restaurant, but decided it looked too expensive.scan something for something: · Robert scanned the lists for his name.
British /take a look at American to read something quickly to check that there are no mistakes or problems: · Would you mind having a look at this report for me?· I've had a quick look at the insurance contract and everything appears to be in order.· Take a look at these figures - our profits are not looking good.
to read only parts of something
to turn the pages of a book, magazine etc without reading much of it, looking for something interesting or useful: · She flicked through the guidebook, looking for somewhere to visit in the afternoon.· I began leafing through a magazine.· Gloria lay on her bed and idly thumbed through the pages of a travel brochure.
to read short parts of a book, magazine etc because you do not want to read the whole thing or because you are looking for a particular piece of information: · He had some books by his bed which he would dip into when he couldn't sleep.· This is a wonderful reference book to dip into for all sorts of fascinating information.
to turn the pages of a magazine or book, stopping to read parts that interest you: · I was browsing through a magazine at the station bookstall when I noticed Susan.
to read something carefully
to read something carefully especially in order to check every detail or find any mistakes: read through/over something: · It's important to read through your essay before you finally hand it in.· My professor read over my dissertation and said that he was very impressed with it.read something through/over: · I've finished writing the report - I've just got to read it through now.
to read something for a long time, very carefully, and with great interest: · He was sitting at his desk poring over old maps of the area.· Ian shook his head as he pored over the report.
to read something long or boring
British /plow through American to read all of something even though it takes a long time and is boring: · I ploughed through all the documents related to the case.· After plowing through so many huge textbooks it was a relief to pick up a novel again.
to read something that is very long and boring, or to read a lot of different pieces of writing such as letters, reports etc which together are long and boring to read: · We waded through a huge pile of applications, and finally selected six people to interview.· It's much easier to find the information on the Internet, rather than wading through piles of documents.
to read a lot about something
to read a lot about something or someone in order to find out about them: · I'll need to read up on the rules of the game if I'm going to referee.· Karen spent the summer reading up on the subjects she would be studying at college.
someone who reads a lot
also great/keen reader British someone who enjoys reading and reads a lot: · I was an avid reader as a child.· My grandchildren are great readers, so I always give them books for their birthday.voracious/avid reader of: · Along with being an expert in business law, Martin is a voracious reader of detective stories.
informal someone who spends a lot of time reading: · I was a real bookworm when I was a child.· an ideal gift for the bookworm in the family
someone who is well-read has read a lot of books, often the most important or famous books, and has learned a lot of information from them: · Charles was a well-read and highly educated man.well-read in: · Although Jack stopped his studies at 19, he was very well-read, especially in the classics.
the people who read a particular newspaper, book etc
someone who reads a particular newspaper, magazine, or a type of book: · The magazine needs to attract more young readers.· Her books appeal especially to women readers.· All Ms Atwood's readers will be delighted with her latest book.· The average reader of science-fiction is young and male.
all the people who read a particular book, magazine, or newspaper: · The newspaper now has a readership of more than 500,000.· These books are obviously written for a young readership.a broad/wide readership: · The magazine now hopes to attract a wider readership.
the number of people who buy and read a particular newspaper or magazine: a circulation of 500,000/1 million etc: · The local newspaper has a circulation of around 16,000.a small/large circulation: · It is a specialist journal with a relatively small circulation.
able to read
· Tom could read by the age of four.· Very few people in the rural areas can read or write.
someone who is literate can read and write - use this about adults or older children: · Over the last hundred years, people have become healthier, more literate, and better educated.· Every student should be literate by the time he or she leaves primary school.
someone, usually a child who can read well: · Children are expected to be competent readers by the time they leave this class.· Good readers tend to be better at spelling than other children.
the fact of being able to read - use this especially to talk about how many people in a society can read and in educational contexts: · Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world (=more people can read there than anywhere else in the world)).· Literacy levels amongst girls very quickly overtook those of boys.· She runs a project called 'Forward to Literary'.· special classes in basic skills such as literacy and numeracy
not able to read
to be unable to read at all: · A new report says that 25% of all 7-year-olds cannot read.· Jim couldn't read at all until he was fifteen.· It was not until I had lived with her for a year that I realized she couldn't read.
someone who is illiterate cannot read or write - use this about adults or older children: · His father was an illiterate farm worker.· If 70% of the population is illiterate, how do people know who they are voting for?
someone, especially a child, who can read, but not very well: · At first Katy was a slow reader, but now she reads all the time.· At the end of the day the teacher does half an hour's extra work with the slow readers.
the fact of being not able to read - use this especially to talk about how many people in a society cannot read: · Illiteracy rates among women in many countries are a serious cause for concern.· a society struggling to overcome poverty and illiteracy· The government has given extra funding to help tackle illiteracy in the inner cities.
easy to read
written clearly enough for you to read: · Is the date on the coin still legible?· Her writing was so tiny that it was barely legible.
difficult or impossible to read
especially spoken use this to say that you are unable to read someone's writing: · I can't read the next word.· She couldn't read the name on the envelope.
informal use this to say that you are unable to read a particular word because it is not written clearly: · I couldn't make out the name at the bottom of the letter.
writing that is illegible is impossible to read because it is not written clearly: · I don't know what this note says - Dad's handwriting is totally illegible!· The label had got wet and was now illegible.
writing that is indecipherable is impossible to read because it is very untidy, very unclear, or is in a language you do not understand: · The painting had an indecipherable signature in the corner.· His writing was tiny and indecipherable.· I received a blurred, indecipherable fax that didn't help at all.
writing that is unreadable is impossible to read because it is very untidy or unclear: · The photocopy was poorly produced and almost unreadable.
something that someone has written in a very untidy way which is very difficult to read: · I couldn't read the doctor's scrawl.· I kept a diary then -- pages and pages of tiny scrawl.
enjoyable or interesting to read
easy and interesting or enjoyable to read: · This is a well-written and readable introduction to the subject of linguistics.· Her articles are always readable and informative.
something that is well-written has been written in a good, clear style that makes it enjoyable or interesting to read: · The article was well written, informative and enjoyable.· This is a clever and well-written play.· Well-written notes are as good as any textbook and easier to absorb.
a book or piece of writing that is worth reading is good enough or interesting enough to make you want to read it: · Have you seen Amis' latest book? It's worth reading.be well worth reading: · It's an interesting book, and well worth reading.
if you say that something makes interesting reading , you mean that it is interesting to read because it contains new or surprising information: · The story of their journey makes interesting reading.· The latest report on educational standards in our schools makes very interesting reading.
informal if a book is a good read , it is enjoyable - use this when giving your opinion about a novel etc: · Her latest book is clever, funny, and well-written - a very good read.
spoken a book that has an interesting or exciting story that makes you want to continue reading it to find out what happens next: · Stephen King's latest novel is, as usual, a real page-turner.
informal use this to talk about a book that is so interesting and exciting that you do not want to stop reading it until you get to the end: · "Unputdownable", raved the literary critic Helen Jewson, "I read it at one sitting".· This book might be an unputdownable expose of London's underworld, but its moral message is highly dubious.
not enjoyable to read
something that is unreadable is not enjoyable to read because it is not written in an interesting way: · The text was dense and unreadable.· The inclusion of so many figures and statistics makes the article virtually unreadable.
if something is badly written it is not enjoyable to read because the style of the writing is not good: · The book was so badly written that I didn't get further than the first chapter.· The report was inaccurate and badly written.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
 I sat down to have a nice quiet read.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
· Have you read his account of the journey?
 Joanne, would you read the poem aloud?
· It was good to see such an intelligent article on censorship.
· What book are you reading at the moment?
· I haven’t even read the first chapter yet.
(=a direction shown by a compass)· We took a compass bearing to ensure we were walking in the right direction.
 ‘Gardening World’ is compulsive viewing for gardeners.
(=read a book, magazine etc very thoroughly)· He read it from cover to cover in less than three hours.
· I wish you’d let me read your diary.
· It took most of the morning to read my emails.
· Did you read her essay on ‘The Waste Land’?
· The journal is essential reading for doctors.
(=understand how someone is feeling by looking at their expression)· In the half light, Ellen could not read his expression.
(=it shows something)· The petrol gauge read empty.
(=for reading)· She looked at him over the frames of her reading glasses.
· I’m afraid I find it very difficult to read your handwriting.
· I just read the main headlines.
(=the headlines say something)· The next morning’s headlines read: ‘Moors Search for Missing Boys’.
· Always read the instructions before switching on the machine.
· May I read her letter?
 It’s a really good book if you want a bit of light reading.
· The first thing he did was read his mail.
(=look at and understand the information on a map)· He drove while I read the map.
 Videos often make good teaching material.
· Sandy read the menu, but didn’t see anything he wanted to eat.
· Which newspaper do you read?
· I saw in the newspaper that he had died.
· I read through my notes before the exam.
(=when poems are read to people, usually by the writer)· I used to like giving poetry readings.
(=to understand signals correctly)· President Nixon read the signals and decided it was time to resign.
· Their reading skills are poor.
 Always read the small print before you sign anything.
· She read a lot of detective stories.
(=assume that something is correct or certain, because you are sure that this is the case) It isn’t official yet, but you can take it as read that you’ve got the contract.
· I didn’t do very well in the listening test.
 Anne has always read voraciously.
 Kerry could read and write when she was five.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· Journal in double triumph Roy Castle takes a break from record-breaking and relaxes with a good read.· It is certainly worth a good read, and I can recommend it to anyone interested in this subject.· I just sit and have a good read until they are done.· On one level, it is vastly entertaining and a rattling good read.· Barnes and Hughes for a good read, Levin ton for the examinations.· It is a recipe which makes for a very good read.· Nevertheless, the book is undoubtedly a good, racy read, especially in its first 100 pages.· Taken as a good read, this is an excellent book.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
  • It's not great literature, but it's a good read.
  • Barnes and Hughes for a good read, Levin ton for the examinations.
  • He seems to have a good read on his players and good rapport with them.
  • I just sit and have a good read until they are done.
  • It is certainly worth a good read, and I can recommend it to anyone interested in this subject.
  • Journal in double triumph Roy Castle takes a break from record-breaking and relaxes with a good read.
  • Le Carre can always be counted on to deliver a good read.
  • Taken as a good read, this is an excellent book.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
  • Armed with the knowledge gleaned from reading matter and known computer buffs I travelled far and wide.
  • But they also noted whether there was reading matter in the house.
  • I was grateful for the information you conveyed regarding Heather's reading matter on Rhodes.
  • The noble Lord is not, you understand a personal friend of mine: just my current reading matter.
  • There were also other changes, such as in available reading matter.
  • Thus the best libretto ever written for the best opera ever written is scarcely tolerable as reading matter.
  • Typographer a specialist in the design of printed matter, and in particular the art of typography.
  • Typography the design and planning of printed matter using type.
► a must-have/must-see/must-read etc► you only have to read/look at/listen to etc something
  • Everything I had read before turned out to be outdated.
  • He comes up to my room in the evenings so that I can read them out to him.
  • He read it out loud to his colleagues, quite sarcastically, expecting them to agree that it was ridiculous.
  • He shouts her out into the street for a harlot.
  • Laura listened attentively while Yoyo read the speech out loud, and in the end, her eyes were glistening too.
  • North read it out at his trial four years later as evidence of approval, but it was all delightfully vague.
  • She brings her notes about it to the meeting and reads them out.
  • We can read the books children are reading, find out what happens in class, ask what the guidance counselor said.
► read somebody’s palm
  • On one level, it is vastly entertaining and a rattling good read.
  • We bet the Weatherfield Advertiser was a rattling good read under Ken's editorship.
  • Stephanie read Ted the riot act for seeing his old girlfriend.
  • But he was walking to a truck stop across the street, probably getting something to eat during his break.
  • It had something to do with being a man.
  • It had something to do with skills, and something to do with expectation and hope.
  • Most calendar programs remind you gently when you have something to do.
  • No, you can't dash out for something to eat.
  • Of course, the beer might have had something to do with this.
  • Then I rolled up my things in a blanket and went out and had something to eat.
  • You've done it a thousand times already, but you do it again, just for something to do.
  • But even though his book was intended for contemplatives, it was also widely read by lay men and women.
  • But he was one of the most well-informed, widely read and serious political figures in public life.
  • For all its note of fantasy, however, the article was widely read and well timed.
  • Herbert is widely read, where Collins is seldom even heard of.
  • Local newspapers are widely read and relatively cheap to advertise in.
  • Newspapers with a significant political reporting are not widely read, whereas television news programs are often among the most-watched programs.
  • The older works listed first are still widely read and most are generally available in both hardcover and paperback.
Word family
WORD FAMILYnounreadreaderreadershipreadingreadabilityadjectivereadable ≠ unreadableverbread
1British English if you have a read, you spend time reading:  I sat down to have a nice quiet read.read of I had a quick read of the report before I left.2a good read something that you enjoy reading:  I thought his last book was a really good read.
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更新时间：2024/11/14 11:54:19