|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
levee
levee [Fr.,=raised], embankment built along a river to prevent flooding by high water. Levees are the oldest and the most extensively used method of flood control. They are constructed by piling earth on a surface that has been cleared of vegetation and leveled. From a broad base the levee narrows to a flat crown, on which sandbags or some other temporary protection may be placed to contain unusually high waters. Levee surfaces are commonly protected from erosion by vegetation, notably Bermuda grass. A banquette, or low terrace of earth, is usually added on the land side of high levees to prevent loss of material from the slope through rain erosion. On the river side, plantings of willows, weighted brush matting, or concrete revetments protect those sections of levee that are exposed to strong waves or currents, while ditches or drainage tiles keep the foundation from becoming waterlogged. Levee systems require careful planning, with sections set back from the river to form a wider channel and with flood valley basins divided by cross levees to prevent inundation of large areas by a single break. The most extensive levee systems in the United States are along the Mississippi and Sacramento rivers and their tributaries. The dikes of Holland are a form of levee, and levee-type embankments are used along the Danube, Vistula, Po, and other European rivers. |
|
|
Cite this article
"levee." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "levee." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-levee.html "levee." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-levee.html |
|
levee
lev·ee1 • n. an embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river. ∎ a ridge of sediment deposited naturally alongside a river by overflowing water. ∎ a landing place; a quay. ∎ a ridge of earth surrounding a field to be irrigated. lev·ee2 / ˈlevē/ • n. a reception or assembly of people, in particular: ∎ a formal reception of visitors or guests. ∎ hist. an afternoon assembly for men held by the British monarch or their representative. ∎ archaic a reception of visitors just after rising from bed. |
|
|
Cite this article
"levee." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "levee." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-levee.html "levee." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-levee.html |
|
levée
levée
1. Raised embankment of a river, showing a gentle slope away from the channel. It results from periodic overbank flooding, when coarser sediment is immediately deposited due to a reduction in velocity. This may lead to a situation in which the river flows well above the level of its outer floodplain. 2. See LAVA LEVÉE. |
|
|
Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "levée." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "levée." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-leve.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "levée." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-leve.html |
|
levee
levee A raised embankment along the edge of a river channel, showing a gentle slope away from the channel. It results from periodic overbank flooding, when coarser sediment is immediately deposited, owing to a reduction in velocity. This may lead to a situation in which the river flows well above the level of its outer flood-plain.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "levee." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "levee." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-levee.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "levee." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-levee.html |
|
levée
levée Natural embankment formed alongside a river by the deposition of silt when the river is in flood. Levées can help to prevent flooding, and are sometimes built up and strengthened artificially. On some large rivers, such as the Mississippi, they may reach heights of more than 15m (50ft).
|
|
|
Cite this article
"levée." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "levée." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-leve.html "levée." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-leve.html |
|
levee
levee reception of visitors on rising from bed XVII; assembly held by a sovereign, etc., esp. in the early afternoon XVIII. — F. levé, sb. use of pp. of lever raise, (refl.) rise; see LEVY, -EE1.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "levee." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "levee." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-levee.html T. F. HOAD. "levee." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-levee.html |
|
Levee
Leveea reception of ten held in the morning; any miscellaneous gathering of guests, 1672. Example: levees of ministers, 1874. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Levee." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Levee." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300917.html "Levee." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300917.html |
|
levee
levee n.
1. an embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river. 2. a landing place; a quay. |
|
|
Cite this article
"levee." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "levee." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-levee.html "levee." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-levee.html |
|
levee
levee •navvy, savvy
•ave, Garvey, Harvey, larvae, Mojave
•bevvy, bevy, Chevy, heavy, levee, Levi, levy, top-heavy
•envy
•cavy, Davy, Devi, gravy, navy, slavey, venae cavae, wavy
•bivvy, chivvy, civvy, divvy, Livy, privy, skivvy, spivvy
•Sylvie • ivy • grovy
•groovy, movie
•covey, lovey, lovey-dovey, luvvy
•anchovy • Muscovy • Pahlavi
•curvy, Nervi, nervy, scurvy, topsy-turvy
|
|
|
Cite this article
"levee." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "levee." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-levee.html "levee." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-levee.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
