reed

/riːd/
noun
  1. A tall, slender plant that grows in wet areas, such as marshes or along rivers.
    • We cut some reeds to use as natural garden stakes.
    • Ducks often hide among the reeds near the shore.
    • The reeds swayed gently in the wind by the lake.
  2. A thin strip of material (such as cane or metal) in a musical instrument that vibrates to produce sound, as in a clarinet, saxophone, or harmonica.
    • The clarinet player replaced the old reed with a new one.
    • He soaked the reed in water before playing the saxophone.
    • A broken reed can cause the instrument to sound muffled.
  3. A device in a loom that separates the threads of the warp.
    • The weaver adjusted the reed to create a tighter weave.
    • The old loom had a metal reed that was still in good condition.
    • Each thread passed through a slot in the reed.