lee
1
[ lee ]
/ li /
noun
protective shelter: The lee of the rock gave us some protection against the storm.
the side or part that is sheltered or turned away from the wind: We erected our huts under the lee of the mountain.
Chiefly Nautical.
the quarter or region toward which the wind blows.
adjective
pertaining to, situated in, or moving toward the lee.
Idioms for lee
by the lee, Nautical.
accidentally against what should be the lee side of a sail: Careless steering brought the wind by the lee.
under the lee, Nautical.
to leeward.
Origin of lee
1
before 900; Middle English; Old English
hlēo(w) shelter, cognate with Old Frisian
hli, hly, Old Saxon
hleo, Old Norse
hlé
Words nearby lee
ledger plate,
ledger strip,
ledgy,
ledoux,
ledyard,
lee,
lee gauge,
lee shore,
lee tide,
lee, robert e.,
leeboard
Definition for lee (2 of 3)
lee
2
[ lee ]
/ li /
noun
Usually lees.
the insoluble matter that settles from a liquid, especially from wine; sediment; dregs.
Origin of lee
2
1350–1400; Middle English
lie < Middle French < Medieval Latin
lia, probably < Gaulish
*lig(j)a; compare Old Irish
lige bed, akin to Old English
gelege bed. See
lie2
Definition for lee (3 of 3)
Lee
[ lee ]
/ li /
noun
Example sentences from the Web for lee
British Dictionary definitions for lee (1 of 3)
lee
/ (liː) /
noun
a sheltered part or side; the side away from the direction from which the wind is blowing
by the lee nautical
so that the wind is blowing on the wrong side of the sail
under the lee nautical
towards the lee
adjective
(prenominal) nautical
on, at, or towards the side or part away from the wind
on a lee shore Compare weather (def. 5)
Word Origin for lee
Old English
hlēow shelter; related to Old Norse
hle
British Dictionary definitions for lee (2 of 3)
Lee
1
/ (liː) /
noun
a river in SW Republic of Ireland, flowing east into Cork Harbour. Length: about 80 km (50 miles)
British Dictionary definitions for lee (3 of 3)
Lee
2
/ (liː) /