Levee

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈlÉ›vi/, /ˈlÉ›v.eɪ/
• Rhymes: -É›vi, -É›veɪ
• Homophones: levy some pronunciations only
• US enPR: lev'i, IPA: /ˈlÉ›vi/
• Rhymes: -É›vi
• Homophones: levy

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

Full definition of levee

Noun

1. An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi.
2. (US) The steep bank of a river, or border of an irrigated field.
3. (US) A pier or other landing place on a river.

Synonyms

• (embankment) dike, floodwall

Verb

1. (US, transitive) To keep within a channel by means of levees.to levee a river

From French levé ("risen").

Noun

1. (obsolete) The act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest.
• Graythe sun's levee
• 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 414:The sturdy hind now attends the levee of his fellow-labourer the ox ...
2. A reception of visitors held after getting up.
3. A formal reception, especially one given by royalty or other leaders.
• 1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety, 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.’

Verb

1. (transitive) To attend the levee or levees of.
• YoungHe levees all the great.----