Glossary:Reef
From Indian River Lagoon Project
reef
A ridge-like or mound-like structure, layered or massive, built by sedentary calcareous organisms, especially corals, and consisting mostly of their remains; it is wave-resistant and stands above the surrounding contemporaneously deposited sediment. Reefs may also include a mass or ridge of rocks, especially coral and sometimes sand, gravel, or shells, rising above the surrounding estuary or sea bottom to or nearly to the surface.
- a line of rocks or sand just above or just below the surface of the sea
Word Class: noun
Pronunciation: /rēf/
Synonym: shoal bar sandbar atoll
Example: Brevard's Barrier Island Reef stretches almost 10 miles from Patrick Air Force Base in the north to Indialantic in the South.
