[Catlady]

The definition of read in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, includes:

• to receive or take in the sense of (as letters or symbols) especially by sight or touch
• to learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing
• to become acquainted with or look over the contents of (as a book)
• to receive and understand (a voice message) by radio
• UNDERSTAND, COMPREHEND

Full definition:

Spoiler:

transitive verb
1 a (1) : to receive or take in the sense of (as letters or symbols) especially by sight or touch (2) : to study the movements of (as lips) with mental formulation of the communication expressed (3) : to utter aloud the printed or written words of *read them a story* b : to learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing c : to deliver aloud by or as if by reading; specifically : to utter interpretively d (1) : to become acquainted with or look over the contents of (as a book) (2) : to make a study of *read law* (3) : to read the works of e : to check (as copy or proof) for errors f (1) : to receive and understand (a voice message) by radio (2) : UNDERSTAND, COMPREHEND
2 a : to interpret the meaning or significance of *read palms* b : FORETELL, PREDICT *able to read his fortune*
3 : to recognize or interpret as if by reading: as a : to learn the nature of by observing outward expression or signs *reads him like a book* b : to note the action or characteristics of in order to anticipate what will happen *a good canoeist reads the rapids* *a golfer reading a green*; also : to predict the movement of (a putt) by reading a green c : to anticipate by observation of an opponent's position or movement *read a blitz*
4 a : to attribute a meaning to (as something read) : INTERPRET *how do you read this passage* b : to attribute (a meaning) to something read or considered *read a nonexistent meaning into her words*
5 : to use as a substitute for or in preference to another word or phrase in a particular passage, text, or version *read hurry for harry* — often used to introduce a clarifying substitute for a euphemistic or misleading word or phrase *a friendly, read nosy, coworker*
6 : INDICATE *the thermometer reads zero*
7 : to interpret (a musical work) in performance
8 a : to acquire (information) from storage; especially : to sense the meaning of (data) in recorded and coded form — used of a computer or data processor b : to read the coded information on (as a floppy disk)
intransitive verb
1 a : to perform the act of reading words : read something b (1) : to learn something by reading (2) : to pursue a course of study
2 a : to yield a particular meaning or impression when read b : to be readable or read in a particular manner or to a particular degree *this book reads smoothly*
3 : to consist of specific words, phrases, or other similar elements *a passage that reads differently in older versions*
–read between the lines : to understand more than is directly stated
–read the riot act
1 : to order a mob to disperse
2 a : to order or warn to cease something b : to protest vehemently c : to reprimand severely

My earlier definition may have been a bit clumsy, but it was not analogous to Humpty Dumpty creating his own definitions.