Lev"ee (l&ebreve;v"&esl;; often l&ebreve;v*ē" in U. S.), n. [F. lever, fr. lever to raise, se lever to rise. See Lever, n.] 1. The act of rising. " The sun's levee." Gray.

2. A morning assembly or reception of visitors, -- in distinction from a soirée, or evening assembly; a matinée; hence, also, any general or somewhat miscellaneous gathering of guests, whether in the daytime or evening; as, the president's levee.

&fist; In England a ceremonious day reception, when attended by both ladies and gentlemen, is called a drawing-room.

Lev"ee, v. t. To attend the levee or levees of.

He levees all the great.

Lev"ee, n. [F. levée, fr. lever to raise. See Lever, and cf. Levy.] An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi; sometimes, the steep bank of a river. [U. S.]

Lev"ee, v. t. To keep within a channel by means of levees; as, to levee a river. [U. S.]

• An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi
  
• the steep bank of a river, or border of an irrigated field
  
• a pier or other landing place on a river
  
• a formal reception, especially one given by royalty (originally, upon rising from bed)