reef
UK: riːf | US: riːf
n. 1. A ridge of rock, coral, or sand at or near the surface of the water.
n. 2. A vein of ore in the earth.
vt. 3. To reduce the area of a sail by folding or rolling part of it.
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The word "reef" traces back to Old Norse rif, meaning "rib" or "ridge," likely referring to the rib-like structure of underwater rock formations. It entered Middle English via Dutch rif (shoal, sandbank), retaining its nautical association. The verb sense (to reduce a sail) emerged in the 17th century, metaphorically likening the folded sail to a reef's jagged edge.
The shipwreck was found near a coral reef teeming with marine life.
Miners discovered a rich reef of gold in the mountains.
The crew had to reef the sails quickly during the storm.
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral ecosystem on Earth.
Ancient reefs often indicate locations of fossilized sea creatures.