"reefing" means: The process of reefing (taking in a sail); an act of reefing; also used of clothing.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
reefing
The process of reefing (taking in a sail); an act of reefing; also used of clothing.
Definitions
(AU, NZ) A reef (seam of quartz).
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Show 1 more dictionary-style sense (imported)
The process of reefing (taking in a sail); an act of reefing; also used of clothing.
"reefing" means: The process of reefing (taking in a sail); an act of reefing; also used of clothing.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"reefing" means: The process of reefing (taking in a sail); an act of reefing; also used of clothing.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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(nautical, UK) To tighten up a sailboat's sheets in order to prevent luffing.
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(Scotland, obsolete) Robbery.
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(nautical) The act by which a person is keelhauled.
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(nautical) The ends of reefs left flapping instead of being tucked out of sight when a sail has been furled.
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The act or process of raking leaves.