Reading, n.
1. The act of one who reads; perusal; also, printed or written matter to be read.
2. Study of books; literary scholarship; as, a man of extensive reading.
3. A lecture or prelection; public recital. The Jews had their weekly readings of the law. Hooker.
4. The way in which anything reads; force of a word or passage presented by a documentary authority; lection; version.
2 more senses
5. Manner of reciting, or acting a part, on the stage; way of rendering. [Cant]
6. An observation read from the scale of a graduated instrument; as, the reading of a barometer. Reading of a bill (Legislation), its normal recital, by the proper officer, before the House which is to consider it.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Reading, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the act of reading; used in reading.
2. Addicted to reading; as, a reading community. Reading book, a book for teaching reading; a reader. -- Reading desk, a desk to support a book while reading; esp., a desk used while reading the service in a church. -- Reading glass, a large lens with more or less magnifying power, attached to a handle, and used in reading, etc. -- Reading man, one who reads much; hence, in the English universities, a close, industrious student. -- Reading room, a room appropriated to reading; a room provided with papers, periodicals, and the like, to which persons resort.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for reading; he lists it under education.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.