lek

¹

[ lek ]

noun

1. a traditional place where males assemble during the mating season and engage in competitive displays that attract females.

verb (used without object)

, lekked, lek·king.

1. (of a male) to assemble in a lek and engage in competitive displays.

lek

²

[ lek ]

noun

1. an aluminum coin and monetary unit of Albania, equal to 100 qintars.

Lek

³

[ lek ]

noun

1. a river in the central Netherlands, flowing W to the Meuse River; the N branch of the lower Rhine. 40 miles (64 km) long.

lek

¹

/ lɛk /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Albania, divided into 100 qindarka

lek

²

/ lɛk /

noun

1. a small area in which birds of certain species, notably the black grouse, gather for sexual display and courtship
2. the act or practice of so gathering

Word History and Origins

Origin of lek¹

1865–70; < Swedish: mating ground (perhaps elliptically from lekställe ), mating, game, play, Old Norse leikr play, cognate with Old English lāc struggle, offering, gift, Gothic laiks dance, Old High German leih melody

Origin of lek²

Borrowed into English from Albanian around 1925–30

Word History and Origins

Origin of lek¹

from Albanian

Origin of lek²

C19: perhaps from dialect lake (vb) from Old English lácan to frolic, fight, or perhaps from Swedish leka to play

Example Sentences

She spends much of her time there worrying about the future of the local Gunnison sage grouse population, which has returned to its lek, or mating grounds, on her father’s land for as long as she can remember.

From Outside Online

The Ritz hired Thai architect Lek Bunnag for the grounds and IA49 as the interior designer.

From The Daily Beast

Acatalectic, a-kat-a-lek′tik, adj. having the complete number of syllables as a verse: without defect.

From Project Gutenberg

Dat's de fines' hawse dat dis chile ebber seen, an' I'se gwan ter watch ober heem lek he wus de apple ob mah eye.

From Project Gutenberg

Lek had travelled much over Germany, but he had never before seen a town like the one below him.

From Project Gutenberg

He strode away towards a faded cottage on the outskirts of the town, leaving Lek to wonder what his mysterious answer could mean.

From Project Gutenberg

Away hobbled the dame; and Lek, wondering at her answer, entered what seemed to him the principal street.

From Project Gutenberg