lees

[ leez ]

plural noun

1. the insoluble matter that settles from a liquid, especially from wine; sediment; dreg.

lees

/ liːz /

plural noun

1. the sediment from an alcoholic drink

Word History and Origins

Origin of lees¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lees¹

C14: plural of obsolete lee, from Old French, probably from Celtic; compare Irish lige bed

Example Sentences

Like Muscadet, this is a wine with a lot of seaside influence with body, also often intensified by lees contact.

From Salon

Panettone baking competitions have sprung up in Singapore and Japan, where one version is leavened with sake lees.

From New York Times

The cava brut designation means it was aged a minimum of nine months on the lees.

From Washington Post

This delicious example tastes as though age on the lees and in bottle has given it a fuller mouthfeel and richer texture.

From Washington Post

In Austria, three tiers of quality — Klassik, Reserve, and Große Reserve — regulate region of origin, alcohol level, winemaking methods, and lees aging with increasing strictness.

From Salon