read

For the verb: "to read"

Simple Past:	read
Past Participle:	read

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
read/riːd/

▶verb (past and past part. read)

• 1 look at and understand the meaning of (written or printed matter) by interpreting the characters or symbols of which it is composed.

  ■ speak (written or printed words) aloud.

  ■ habitually read (a newspaper or periodical).

  ■ (of a passage, text, or sign) have a certain wording.

• 2 discover (information) by reading it in a written or printed source.

  ■ (as adj. read) having a specified level of knowledge as a result of reading: she was well read.

• 3 understand or interpret the nature or significance of.

  ■ (of a piece of writing) convey a specified impression to the reader: the note read like a cry for help.

• 4 inspect and record the figure indicated on (a measuring instrument).

  ■ indicate a specified measurement or figure.

• 5 chiefly Brit. study (an academic subject) at a university.

• 6 (of a computer) copy or transfer (data).

  ■ enter or extract (data) in an electronic storage device.

• 7 present (a bill or other measure) before a legislative assembly.

• 8 hear and understand the words of (someone speaking on a radio transmitter).

▶noun

• 1 chiefly Brit. a period or act of reading.

• 2 informal a book considered in terms of its readability.

– phrases
read between the lines look for or discover a meaning that is implied rather than explicit.
read someone's mind (or thoughts) discern what someone is thinking.
read my lips N. Amer. informal listen carefully.

– phrasal verbs
read something into attribute a meaning or significance to (something) that it may not possess.
read someone out of chiefly US formally expel someone from.
read up on acquire information about (a subject) by reading.

– origin OE rǣdan, of Gmc origin; early senses included ‘advise’ and ‘interpret a riddle or dream’.