lees
Americanplural noun
plural noun
Etymology
Origin of lees
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lie, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin lia, probably from unattested Gaulish lig(j)a; compare Old Irish lige “bed,” akin to Old English gelege “bed”; lie 2
Vocabulary lists containing lees
"Ulysses" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
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"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Aged 3-4 years on the lees, this opulent sparkler from a venerable Champagne house comes in an elegant flagon-shaped bottle.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025
Like Muscadet, this is a wine with a lot of seaside influence with body, also often intensified by lees contact.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2023
Muscadet mirrors the marina freshness of oysters while adding the light richness of lees contact making a harmonious pairing.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2023
Cava de Paraje Calificado is a single-vineyard cuvée aged on its lees for at least 10 years.
From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 2022
“Now,” cried the man, and he aimed a furious swipe at Lancelot’s lees.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
