reef

A strip or ridge of rocks, sand, or coral that rises to or near the surface of a body of water.

A vein of ore.

A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed to the wind.

To reduce the size of (a sail) by tucking in a part and tying it to or rolling it around a yard.

To shorten (a topmast or bowsprit) by taking part of it in.

Nautical, a part of a sail rolled or folded up, in order to diminish the extent of canvas exposed to the wind.

A low, narrow ridge of rocks, rising ordinarily but a few feet above the water.

Any extensive elevation of the bottom of the sea; a shoal; abank: so called by fishermen.

In Australia, the same as lode, vein, or ledge of the Cordilleran miner: as, a quartz-reef (that is, a quartz-vein).

A kind of commercial sponge which grows on reefs.