lees

plural noun

ˈlēz How to pronounce lees (audio)
Synonyms of leesnext
: the sediment of a liquor (such as wine) during fermentation and aging : dregs

Examples of lees in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It is aged for three to five years on the lees which results in great complexity and richness on the palate. — Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2022 The Cava Brut designation means it was aged a minimum of nine months on the lees. — Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2022 There are Japanese versions leavened with sake lees and Brazilian ones stuffed with dulce de leche; supermarket minis that cost $2 and truffled ones that fetch nearly $200. — Julia Moskin, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2022 Fermented from rice, water, Sake-Kasu (the lees that remain after pressing Sake; these can still contain fermentable elements), rice-koji, and anything else accepted by law. — Elsbeth Sites, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2014 See All Example Sentences for lees

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lie, plural lies, borrowed from Anglo-French lie (also continental Old French), perhaps going back to continental Celtic *līgā, going back to earlier *lēgā, lengthened-grade derivative from the Indo-European verb base *legh-, as in Latin lēctus "bed" — more at lie entry 1

Note: The word is first attested in the Reichenau Glosses (late eighth century), where a latinized form lias is matched with classical Latin fēx, earlier faex "wine lees" (see feces). The assumed Celtic etymon has been compared with Old Irish lige "bed, couch," also serving as the verbal noun of laigid "(s/he) lies down," but this presumably goes back to *legi̯om, with a short vowel, while the Old French word requires ī.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lees was in the 14th century

Rhymes for lees

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Browse Nearby Words

leery
lees
Leesburg
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Cite this Entry

“Lees.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lees. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lees

plural noun
ˈlēz How to pronounce lees (audio)
: the settlings of liquor (as wine) during fermentation and aging : dregs

More from Merriam-Webster on lees

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lees

Nglish: Translation of lees for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lees

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