fleece

[ flees ]
/ flis /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR fleece ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used with object), fleeced, fleec·ing.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

Did you collect all of last week’s words, but eftsoons forget what they mean? Don’t worry, we’re here to jog your memory. See how many words from the week of May 18 to 24 you can get right!
Question 1 of 7
weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of fleece

before 1000; Middle English flees, Old English flēos, flȳs; cognate with Middle Dutch vlies, Middle High German vlius, German Vlies

OTHER WORDS FROM fleece

fleece·a·ble, adjectivefleece·less, adjectivefleece·like, adjectivefleec·er, noun

Words nearby fleece

fledge, fledged, fledgling, fledgy, flee, fleece, fleece-vine, fleeced, fleecie, fleecy, fleein'
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to fleecing

cheat, gouge, overcharge, defraud, swindle, shaft, rook, clip, rob, burn, pluck, milk, flimflam, rifle, hustle, mulct, strip, despoil, cozen, bleed

Example sentences from the Web for fleecing

British Dictionary definitions for fleecing

fleece
/ (fliːs) /

noun

verb (tr)

to defraud or charge exorbitantly; swindle
another term for shear (def. 1)

Word Origin for fleece

Old English flēos; related to Middle High German vlius, Dutch vlies fleece, Latin plūma feather, down
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012