levee
pronunciation
How to pronounce levee in British English:
UK [ˈlevi]
How to pronounce levee in American English:
US [ˈlɛvi]
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- Noun:
- a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
Word Origin
- levee (n.1)
- 1719, "natural or artificial embankment to prevent overflow of a river," from New Orleans French levée "raising, lifting; embankment," from French, originally fem. past participle of lever "to raise," from Latin levare "to raise" (see lever).
- levee (n.2)
- "morning assembly held by a prince or king (upon rising from bed)," 1670s, from French lever "a raising," noun use of verb meaning "to raise" (see levee (n.1)).
Example
- 1. To lie on top of the levee and as close together as possible .
- 2. Even before the hungary disaster , baotou authorities had begun a program to reinforce the levee here .
- 3. No matter how high the levee or how flexible the foundation , disaster experts say , nature bats last .
- 4. Louisianans hope that the national infrastructure campaign barack obama wants to implement will include a healthy dose of levee - and wetland-building .
- 5. Earlier this month , new orleans voters renewed a levy tax , but officials are concerned it might not generate enough revenue to operate the new levee system for the long term .