From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
reading
n 1: the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic
message; "he enjoys reading books"
2: a datum about some physical state that is presented to a
user by a meter or similar instrument; "he could not
believe the meter reading"; "the barometer gave clear
indications of an approaching storm" [syn: {meter
reading}, indication]
3: a particular interpretation or performance; "on that reading
it was an insult"; "he was famous for his reading of
Mozart"
4: written material intended to be read; "the teacher assigned
new readings"; "he bought some reading material at the
airport" [syn: reading material]
5: a mental representation of the meaning or significance of
something [syn: interpretation, version]
6: a city on the River Thames in Berkshire in southern England
[syn: Reading]
7: a public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory)
something prepared in advance; "the program included songs
and recitations of well-loved poems" [syn: recitation,
recital]
8: the act of measuring with meters or similar instruments; "he
has a job meter reading for the gas company" [syn: {meter
reading}]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Read \Read\ (r[=e]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Read (r[e^]d); p.
pr. & vb. n. Reading.] [OE. reden, r[ae]den, AS. r[=ae]dan
to read, advise, counsel, fr. r[=ae]d advice, counsel,
r[=ae]dan (imperf. reord) to advise, counsel, guess; akin to
D. raden to advise, G. raten, rathen, Icel. r[=a][eth]a,
Goth. r[=e]dan (in comp.), and perh. also to Skr. r[=a]dh to
succeed. [root]116. Cf. Riddle.]
1. To advise; to counsel. [Obs.] See Rede.
[1913 Webster]
Therefore, I read thee, get thee to God's word, and
thereby try all doctrine. --Tyndale.
[1913 Webster]
2. To interpret; to explain; as, to read a riddle.
[1913 Webster]
3. To tell; to declare; to recite. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
But read how art thou named, and of what kin.
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
4. To go over, as characters or words, and utter aloud, or
recite to one's self inaudibly; to take in the sense of,
as of language, by interpreting the characters with which
it is expressed; to peruse; as, to read a discourse; to
read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read
the notes of music, or to read music; to read a book.
[1913 Webster]
Redeth [read ye] the great poet of Itaille.
--Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
Well could he rede a lesson or a story. --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
5. Hence, to know fully; to comprehend.
[1913 Webster]
Who is't can read a woman? --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
6. To discover or understand by characters, marks, features,
etc.; to learn by observation.
[1913 Webster]
An armed corse did lie,
In whose dead face he read great magnanimity.
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
Those about her
From her shall read the perfect ways of honor.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
7. To make a special study of, as by perusing textbooks; as,
to read theology or law.
[1913 Webster]
To read one's self in, to read aloud the Thirty-nine
Articles and the Declaration of Assent, -- required of a
clergyman of the Church of England when he first
officiates in a new benefice.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Reading \Read"ing\, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the act of reading; used in reading.
[1913 Webster]
2. Addicted to reading; as, a reading community.
[1913 Webster]
Reading book, a book for teaching reading; a reader.
Reading desk, a desk to support a book while reading; esp.,
a desk used while reading the service in a church.
Reading glass, a large lens with more or less magnifying
power, attached to a handle, and used in reading, etc.
Reading man, one who reads much; hence, in the English
universities, a close, industrious student.
Reading room, a room appropriated to reading; a room
provided with papers, periodicals, and the like, to which
persons resort.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Reading \Read"ing\ (r[=e]d"[i^]ng), n.
1. The act of one who reads; perusal; also, printed or
written matter to be read.
[1913 Webster]
2. Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a man of
extensive reading.
[1913 Webster]
3. A lecture or prelection; public recital.
[1913 Webster]
The Jews had their weekly readings of the law.
--Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
4. The way in which anything reads; force of a word or
passage presented by a documentary authority; lection;
version.
[1913 Webster]
5. Manner of reciting, or acting a part, on the stage; way of
rendering. [Cant]
[1913 Webster]
6. An observation read from the scale of a graduated
instrument; as, the reading of a barometer.
[1913 Webster]
Reading of a bill (Legislation), its formal recital, by the
proper officer, before the House which is to consider it.
[1913 Webster]