Meanings
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1
noun
the sediment of yeast, grape matter, and other particles that settles after wine fermentation
The young wine was carefully drawn off so that the bitter wine lees remained at the bottom of the cask.
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Etymology
A compound of wine + lees. Lees entered Middle English from Old French lie, meaning sediment or dregs, especially the deposit left by fermented wine. The plural form became the normal English mass noun.