ab|lesen
Translation
to read off, to read out, to read from, to lip-read
Examples
Bitte lesen Sie den Zählerstand ab.
Please read the meter reading.
Der Redner liest seinen Text vom Blatt ab.
The speaker is reading his text from the paper.
Man kann an seinem Gesicht ablesen, wie er sich fühlt.
You can tell how he feels from his face.
Gehörlose können oft von den Lippen ablesen.
Deaf people can often lip-read.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) ((from sth.)) to read sth. from sth. He reads the data from the screen.
((sth.)) from sb.'s lips to lip-read sth. from sb. She can read his every wish from his lips.
Similar Words
vorlesen (to read aloud), entziffern (to decipher)
Etymology
From 'ab-' (off, from) and 'lesen' (to read). Literally 'to read off' something.
Memory Tips
Imagine reading the numbers *off* a gas meter. The 'ab-' prefix implies taking the information *from* the source.