noun
lees
leez
noun
1
The sediment of dead yeast and fruit residue left after fermenting a drink like wine.
"The wine was aged on its lees to develop a richer flavour."
How to Use Lees
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe leftover sludge at the bottom of a fermenting barrel or bottle.
Common pairings
aged on the lees
settle to the lees
Word Forms
Leeses plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “lees”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The wine was aged on its _____ to develop a richer flavour.
Etymology
From Old French lies, going back to a Gaulish word for silt or sediment — related distantly to the place names Loire and Leicester.