An elevated ridge of deposited sediment on the banks of a river, formed by the river's overflow at times of high discharge.
An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi.
(US) The steep bank of a river.
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. 1826, William Christy, A Digest of Martin's Reports:
de Damm (embankment to prevent inundation) · bg насип (embankment to prevent inundation) · it argine (embankment to prevent inundation) · ota اور (embankment to prevent inundation) · pt dique (embankment to prevent inundation) · bg дига (embankment to prevent inundation) · eo digo (embankment to prevent inundation) · pt encosta (embankment to prevent inundation) · hu gát (embankment to prevent inundation) · pl nabrzeże (steep bank of a river) · hi तटबंध (embankment to prevent inundation) · mk насип (embankment to prevent inundation) · th คันดิน (embankment to prevent inundation) · pl wał przeciwpowodziowy (embankment to prevent inundation) · ru да́мба (embankment to prevent inundation) · hu védőgát (embankment to prevent inundation) · hu töltés (embankment to prevent inundation) · de Uferböschung (steep bank of a river) · cs hrázka (embankment to prevent inundation) · ca cavalló (embankment to prevent inundation) · es dique (embankment to prevent inundation) · hu árvízvédelmi töltés/gát (embankment to prevent inundation) · da floddige (embankment to prevent inundation) · ca mota (embankment to prevent inundation) · mi tupehau (embankment to prevent inundation) · fi tulvapato (embankment to prevent inundation) · sl nasip (embankment to prevent inundation) · de Deich (embankment to prevent inundation) · hi बंधा (embankment to prevent inundation) · pl grobla (embankment to prevent inundation) · fr digue (embankment to prevent inundation) · ru на́сыпь (embankment to prevent inundation) · es malecón (embankment to prevent inundation)
(US, transitive) To keep within a channel by means of levees.
to levee a river
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
leveeing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
levée
alternative, uncommon
lexicographic
levees
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
leveed
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
leveed
Tense=Past
lexicographic
Translations (5)
fi rakentaa rantavalli (to levee a river) · fi padota (to levee a river) · pl wznieść wał przeciwpowodziowy (to levee a river) · pl wznosić wał przeciwpowodziowy (to levee a river) · de eindeichen (to levee a river)
From French levé variant of the noun lever (“the act of getting up in the morning”).
Meanings
(obsolete) The act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest.
The sturdy hind now attends the levee of his fellow-labourer the ox […] 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 414:
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
A reception of visitors held after getting up.
A formal reception, especially one given by royalty or other leaders.
I must take my leave, for the Cardinal holds a levee to-day, and let those fail in attendance who want nothing. 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 179:
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.’ 1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety, published 1993, →ISBN, page 195:
From French levé variant of the noun lever (“the act of getting up in the morning”).
Meanings
(transitive) To attend the levee or levees of.
He levees all the great. 1725–1728, [Edward Young], “(please specify the page)”, in Love of Fame, the Universal Passion. In Seven Characteristical Satires, 4th edition, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson […], published 1741, →OCLC: