Meaning & Definition of word "Lees"

Lees

/liːz/

1. The sediment or dregs that settle at the bottom of a liquid, especially in a barrel of wine or beer.
- Example: After the fermentation process, the lees contributed to the wine's unique flavor.
2. The residual particles in a liquid, which can provide characteristics to drinks like wine or cider.
- Example: Aged in contact with the lees, the champagne developed a rich, toasty aroma.
3. A term used in the context of winemaking and brewing to refer to the dead yeast cells and other solids that remain after fermentation.
- Example: The winemaker decided to leave the wine on the lees for an additional six months to enhance its complexity.
4. In a more general sense, the remains or waste left after a process.
- Example: After the distillation, the lees were discarded, as they had no further use.

Old English 'lēs', meaning 'residue' or 'sediment'.

dead leaves:

Refers to the leftover material that accumulates after processes like winemaking, metaphorically used to indicate useless or discarded items.

lees of the field:

Used metaphorically for things that are leftover or less desirable.

dregs:

The remnants of liquid in a container, particularly the solid remnants.

sediment:

Matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

Meaning: Things that are considered worthless or of little value.

Example Sentence: He said his old car is just a bunch of lees now.

Meaning: Leftover parts in any context.

Example Sentence: The party was great, but by the end, we were left with just a lot of lees.