noun · neutral
reef
/riːf/REEF
Band 5-6speakingtask2
a ridge of rock, sand, or coral near the surface of the sea, often rich in marine life
Examples
“Coral reefs are home to thousands of marine species.”
“Tourists visit the reef for snorkeling and diving.”
“Rising sea temperatures threaten reef ecosystems.”
Band 8 sentence
“Protecting reefs is essential not only for biodiversity but also for coastal communities' livelihoods.”
Collocations
- coral reef
- reef ecosystem
- damage to the reef
Word family
coral nounreef-building adjective
Common mistakes
Coral is a reef.→Coral builds a reef / Coral forms a reef.
The reefs are dying because of coastal pollutions.→The reefs are dying because of coastal pollution.
Say it for a higher band
5sea→6coral→7+reef
Synonyms
barrier
Easily confused
coral
“Divers admire the colorful coral close to the shore.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Nature & Animals
Learn it with its set