Definition of “reading” - English Dictionary

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“reading” in English

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readingnoun

uk ​ /ˈriː.dɪŋ/ us ​ /ˈriː.dɪŋ/

reading noun (WRITTEN TEXT)

A1 [ U ] the skill or activity of getting information from books:

Reading and tennis are my favourite pastimes.
The diaries make good (bedtime) reading (= are good to read (in bed at night)).
These books are compulsory/required reading for students of architecture.

C2 [ C ] an occasion when something written, especially a work of literature, is spoken to an audience:

The society often arranges poetry readings and musical evenings.

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reading noun (PARLIAMENT)

› [ C ] In a parliament, a reading of a new law is one of the stages of discussion before it is approved:

The Housing Bill was given its second reading in Parliament today.

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(Definition of “reading” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“reading” in American English

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readingnoun

us ​ /ˈri·dɪŋ/

reading noun (OBTAIN MEANING)

› [ C/U ] the skill or activity of getting information from written words:

[ U ] Reading is my favorite pastime.

› [ C/U ] Reading is also text to be read:

[ U ] These books are required reading for architecture students.

› [ C/U ] A reading is an occasion when a literary work or formal text is read aloud to a group of people:

[ C ] a poetry reading

reading noun (UNDERSTAND)

› [ C ] the way in which you understand something:

My reading of the situation is that John wanted an excuse to resign.

(Definition of “reading” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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