Definition of lee
1
:protecting shelter
2
:the side (as of a ship) or area that is sheltered from the wind
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Examples of lee in a Sentence
the lee of the ship
Recent Examples of lee from the Web
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Silly for setting up in a strong wind in the lee of a giant cliff, where the air swirls and gusts unpredictably around the steep walls of sinuously folded, crumbling rock.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lee.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of lee
Middle English, from Old English hlēo; perhaps akin to Old High German lāo lukewarm, Latin calēre to be warm
Definition of lee
1
:of, relating to, or being the side sheltered from the wind — compare weather
2
:facing in the direction of motion of an overriding glacier
—used especially of a hillside
First Known Use of lee
15th century
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
Charles 1731–1782 American (English-born) general
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
David Morris 1931– American physicist
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
Francis Lightfoot 1734–1797 American statesman in Revolution
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
(Nelle) Harper 1926–2016 American novelist
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
Henry 1756–1818 Light-Horse Harry; father of Robert E. Lee American general
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
Myung-bak 1941– president of South Korea (2008–13)
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
Richard Henry 1732–1794 brother of Francis Lightfoot Lee American statesman in Revolution
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
Robert E(dward) 1807–1870 American Confederate general
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
Sir Sidney 1859–1926 English editor and scholar
Lee
biographical name
Definition of Lee
Yuan Tseh 1936– American (Taiwanese-born) chemist
LEE Defined for English Language Learners
lee
play
noun
Definition of lee for English Language Learners
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: the side of something that is sheltered from the wind
LEE Defined for Kids
Definition of lee for Students
1
:a protecting shelter
2
:the side (as of a ship) sheltered from the wind
Learn More about lee
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See words that rhyme with lee Spanish Central: Translation of lee Nglish: Translation of lee for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lee for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lee
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