Read"ing (rēd"ĭng), n.
1. The act of one who reads; perusal; also,
printed or written matter to be read.
2. Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a
man of extensive reading.
3. A lecture or prelection; public
recital.
The Jews had their weekly readings of the
law.
Hooker.
4. The way in which anything reads; force of a
word or passage presented by a documentary authority; lection;
version.
5. Manner of reciting, or acting a part, on
the stage; way of rendering. [Cant]
6. An observation read from the scale of a
graduated instrument; as, the reading of a barometer.
Reading of a bill (Legislation), its
formal recital, by the proper officer, before the House which is to
consider it.
Read"ing, a. 1. Of
or pertaining to the act of reading; used in reading.
2. Addicted to reading; as, a reading
community.
Reading book, a book for teaching reading; a
reader. -- Reading desk, a desk to support
a book while reading; esp., a desk used while reading the service in a
church. -- Reading glass, a large lens with
more or less magnifying power, attached to a handle, and used in
reading, etc. -- Reading man, one who reads
much; hence, in the English universities, a close, industrious
student. -- Reading room, a room
appropriated to reading; a room provided with papers, periodicals, and
the like, to which persons resort.