reed

(countable) Any of various types of tall stiff perennial grass-like plants growing together in groups near water.

(countable) The hollow stem of these plants.

(countable, music) Part of the mouthpiece of certain woodwind instruments, comprising a thin piece of wood or metal which shakes very quickly to produce sound when a musician blows over it.

(countable, music) A musical instrument such as the clarinet or oboe, which produces sound when a musician blows on the reed.

(countable, weaving) A comb-like part of a beater for beating the weft when weaving.

(countable, historical) A piece of whalebone or similar for stiffening the skirt or waist of a woman's dress.

(uncountable, architecture) Reeding.

(mining) A tube containing the train of powder for igniting the charge in blasting.

Straw prepared for thatching a roof.

(poetic, obsolete) A missile weapon.

(archaic, metrology) A measuring rod.

A Babylonian unit of measure the length of a reed, equal to half a nindan, or six cubits.