First Known Use: 1672
Dictionary
1levee
noun le·vee \ˈle-vē; lə-ˈvē, -ˈvā\
Definition of LEVEE
1
: a reception held by a person of distinction on rising from bed
2
: an afternoon assembly at which the British sovereign or his or her representative receives only men
3
: a reception usually in honor of a particular person
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Origin of LEVEE
French lever, from Middle French, act of arising, from (se) lever to rise
2levee
noun lev·ee \ˈle-vē\
Definition of LEVEE
1
a : an embankment for preventing flooding b : a river landing place : pier
2
: a continuous dike or ridge (as of earth) for confining the irrigation areas of land to be flooded
Origin of LEVEE
French levée, from Old French, act of raising, from lever to raise — more at lever
First Known Use: circa 1720
Other Civil Engineering Terms
3levee
verb lev·ee \ˈle-vē\
lev·eedlev·ee·ing
Definition of LEVEE
transitive verb
: to provide with a levee
First Known Use of LEVEE
1832
Other Civil Engineering Terms
LEVEE Defined for Kids
levee
noun le·vee \ˈle-vē\
Definition of LEVEE for Kids
: a bank built along a river to prevent flooding
Learn More About LEVEE
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