Definition of "levee"

levee¹

/ˈlɛvi/

noun
plural levees
1. An elevated geographical feature.
2. An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi.
3. (US) The steep bank of a river.
4. (US) The border of an irrigated field.
5. (US) A pier or other landing place on a river.
verb
third-person singular simple present levees, present participle leveeing, simple past and past participle leveed
1. (US, transitive) To keep within a channel by means of levees.

levee²

/ˈlɛvi/

noun
plural levees
1. (obsolete) The act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest.
  Quotations
  And look before you were up in the morning, though you were a punctual courtier at the sun's levee
  c. 1763, Thomas Gray, letter to Mr. Nichols
  The sturdy hind now attends the levee of his fellow-labourer the ox […]
  1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 414
2. A reception of visitors held after getting up.
3. A formal reception, especially one given by royalty or other leaders.
  Quotations
  I must take my leave, for the Cardinal holds a levee to-day, and let those fail in attendance who want nothing.
  1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), page 179
  At the King's levee on the morning of the 13th, Philippe was first ignored; then asked by His Majesty (rudely) what he wanted; then told, ‘Get back where you came from.’
  1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety‎, published 1993, page 195
verb
third-person singular simple present levees, present participle leveeing, simple past and past participle leveed
1. (transitive) To attend the levee or levees of.
  Quotations
  He levees all the great.
  1725–1728, published 1741