Read"ing (?), 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 normal recital, by the proper officer, before the House which is to consider it.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.