reading

Everyday

1. Reading is looking at written words and understanding them. tree →
2. A reading is a piece of writing read aloud to people, as in church or at a wedding. tree →
3. A reading is the number shown on a measuring instrument, like a thermometer or meter. tree →
4. A reading is the way you understand something, an interpretation. tree →
5. (UK) Reading is also the name of a town in England, said «RED-ing». tree →
6. (law) A reading is a stage when a new law is discussed in parliament. tree →

In the lessons

In school, reading is a core subject: reading books, reading comprehension, reading aloud. In church, people read readings from the Bible. In science, pupils take readings from thermometers, scales and rulers. Phrases: «reading book», «take a reading», «the first reading», «a reading age», «light reading».

Examples

• Reading every evening helps you learn new words. tree →
• My reading book is about a talking fox. tree →
• The first reading in church was from the Book of Isaiah. tree →
• Take a reading from the thermometer every hour. tree →
• The meter reading shows how much electricity we used. tree →
• My reading of the poem is that it is about loneliness. tree →
• We drove through Reading on the way to London. tree →
• "Brothers!" said Vanya, "I've done my share of reading. tree →

Note

«Reading» the activity is uncountable; a reading (Bible passage, measurement) is countable. Pronunciation trap: «reading» (REE-ding) as the activity, but the town is «RED-ing». Science: always write the unit with a reading (21 °C, 3.5 kg).

In Jewish tradition

In Nehemiah, the Law was read aloud and explained so that all could understand. Baruch read Jeremiah's words in the Temple, and Jeremiah told Seraiah to read the scroll in Babylon.

Interpretation. The Nehemiah scene is seen by tradition as the beginning of public Torah reading with explanation. In Sefer Yetzirah a reading is the way a scholar understands a line of the text.

Examples

• 24) The reading of Von Jo. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• The reading of Rabbi Luria is as follows: (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• 14) I adopted here the reading of Judah Halevi, namely: (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• And they read in the book, in the Law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. (Writings NEH.8.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house. (Prophets JER.36.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates; (Prophets JER.51.63, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Reading» the activity is uncountable; a reading (Bible passage, measurement) is countable. Pronunciation trap: «reading» (REE-ding) as the activity, but the town is «RED-ing». Science: always write the unit with a reading (21 °C, 3.5 kg).