Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

levee

/ˈlɛvi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.79 in modern English

Syllables: lev-ee
IPA: /ˈlɛvi/

8

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

3

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An elevated ridge of deposited sediment on the banks of a river, formed by the river's overflow at times of high discharge.

noun

An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi.

noun

The steep bank of a river.

American usage

noun

The border of an irrigated field.

American usage

noun

A pier or other landing place on a river.

American usage

verb

To keep within a channel by means of levees.

American usage; Transitive verb

noun

The act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest.

Obsolete

noun

A reception of visitors held after getting up.

Example Sentences

"The purchaser of a riparious estate under the words "front to the levee," does not acquire the alluvion or batture, when there is land susceptible of separate ownership beyond the levee."
"to levee a river"
"c. 1763, Thomas Gray, letter to Mr. Nichols And look before you were up in the morning, though you were a punctual courtier at the sun's levee"
"The sturdy hind now attends the levee of his fellow-labourer the ox […]"
"I must take my leave, for the Cardinal holds a levee to-day, and let those fail in attendance who want nothing."
"At the King's levee on the morning of the 13th, Philippe was first ignored; then asked by His Majesty (rudely) what he wanted; then told, ‘Get back where you came from.’"

Etymology

From French levée, from lever (“to raise, rise”).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈlɛvi/
British English: /ˈlɛvi/

Usage

Inflected Forms

levees (plural) levée (alternative, uncommon) levees (present, singular) leveeing (participle, present) leveed (participle, past) leveed (past)

Derived Forms

palaeolevee paleolevee

Synonyms

dike floodwall

Homonyms

levy (some pronunciations only) levy

Rhymes With

heavy levy bevy vevey chevy bevvy kevy kevvy replevy evie

Questions

How do you pronounce levee?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈlɛvi/.
What does levee mean?: An elevated ridge of deposited sediment on the banks of a river, formed by the river's overflow at times of high discharge.
Where does levee come from?: From French levée, from lever (“to raise, rise”).

How to pronounce levee

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “levee”.
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