lei

¹

[ ley, ley-ee ]

noun

, plural leis.

1. (in the Hawaiian Islands) a wreath of flowers, leaves, etc., for the neck or head.

lei

²

[ ley ]

noun

1. plural of leu.

lei

¹

/ leɪ /

noun

1. See leu
   the plural of leu

lei

²

/ leɪ /

noun

1. (in Hawaii) a garland of flowers, worn around the neck

Word History and Origins

Origin of lei¹

Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1835–45

Word History and Origins

Origin of lei¹

from Hawaiian

Example Sentences

Lei Huazhen is a handsome woman and unusually tall for an inhabitant of Sichuan.

From The Daily Beast

“Media concerned know in their heart what they did wrong,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei explained afterward.

From The Daily Beast

If not for its political angles, the Lei exposé is hardly the most eye-catching of Chinese sex scandals.

From The Daily Beast

Lei, 54, is now under investigation for allegedly giving profitable construction deals to both his mistress and his brother.

From The Daily Beast

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei advised mainland citizens to “express their appeals in a rational and legal way.”

From The Daily Beast

Sumar lei af, ok frtti rhallr ekki til sauamanns, ok engi kunni skyn honum.

From Project Gutenberg

Heyru menn til sauamanns ǫndveran daginn, en mir er lei daginn.

From Project Gutenberg

Tk at fjka, ok geri hr um kveldit; kmu menn til ta, ok lei sv fram at dagsetri; eigi kom Glmr heim.

From Project Gutenberg

But her picture was not worth five lei, as you can see for yourself.

From Project Gutenberg

"A Lei non posso dar un rifiuto," said he, meeting her shining eyes; and he gravely gathered the money and slung his tray.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• garland
• pot
• vase
• wreath