reefed

Reduced the canvas

Reefed describes a sail that has been reduced in size by folding or rolling part of it and securing it to manage strong winds.

A reefed mainsail exposes less surface area to the wind, giving sailors more control in rough weather.

By extension, reefed can describe anything deliberately held back or reduced: He kept his ambitions reefed until the right opportunity appeared.

reduction

shortened

Made more concise

contracted · diminished · lessened · trimmed · taken in · pulled down · secured · tied · bundled · folded

sailing

mainsail

Principal vessel canvas

canvas · furling · rigging · boom · mast · sheet · clew · leech · batten · outhaul

wind

gale

Severe sustained wind

  • squallBrief, violent windstorm
  • gustBrief wind surge
  • stormSevere atmospheric disturbance

tempest · heavy weather · blow · strong breeze · foul weather · rough seas · whitecaps · howling

Opposites
sail deployment

reefedfull sail

Every sail raised

shook out · shaken out · let out · spread · unfurled

Phrases
Family

reef, reefs, reefer, reefing

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G