必读 is a noun that literally means 'must-read' — a book, article, or piece of content that is essential or highly recommended to read, often in academic, professional, or cultural contexts. It's commonly used in lists or recommendations (e.g., 必读书目 'must-read book list'). The word is a compact compound of 必 'must' and 读 'read', and it functions as a standalone noun, not as a verb phrase.