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levee

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The definition of a levee is a barrier or embankment designed to prevent the overflow of water onto land.

(noun)

Barriers set up in New Orleans that were designed to prevent the flow of water and that failed during Hurricane Katrina, causing flooding, are an example of levees.

See levee in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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noun

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

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

transitive verb leveed, leveeing

to build a levee along

noun

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

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

See levee in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun