noun
- a ridge of rocks, sand, or coral at or near the surface of water
verb
- to reduce the area of a sail by folding or rolling part of it
Usage: nautical
Examples
- The coral reef was home to hundreds of colorful fish.
- Ships must navigate carefully around the rocky reef.
- Snorkeling near the reef revealed amazing marine life.
- The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system.
- The captain ordered the crew to reef the mainsail before the storm.
- They had to reef the sails when the wind picked up.