levee Hear it!

levee1 definition

levee (levē)

noun

  1. an embankment built alongside a river to prevent high water from flooding bordering land
  2. a landing place, as a pier, on the bank of a river
  3. a low ridge of earth around a field to be irrigated

Etymology: Fr levée, fem. pp. of OFr lever, to raise: see lever

transitive verb leveed lev′eed, leveeing lev′ee·ing

to build a levee along
levee2 definition

levee (levē; lə vē, -vā)

noun

  1. Historical a morning reception held by a sovereign or person of high rank upon arising
  2. any formal or stylish reception
  3. Brit. a reception held in the afternoon by the king or his representative, attended only by men

Etymology: Fr levé, for OFr lever, substantival use of inf., to raise, se lever, to rise: see levee

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