English Reference
noun

dee

n.
US /ˈdi/ dee

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the name of the letter 'D' or 'd' when you say it out loud.

    the phonetic name for the fourth letter of the Latin alphabet.

    Simple

    The word 'dog' starts with a dee.

    In context

    The child carefully traced the curve of the uppercase dee, ensuring the vertical stroke was perfectly straight.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical

    an object that has the shape of the letter 'D'.

    an object or component, such as a ring or a lock, characterized by a D-shaped profile.

    Simple

    He attached the strap to the metal dee on his backpack.

    In context

    The harness was reinforced with heavy-duty steel dees to ensure the safety of the climber during the ascent.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Slang Law

    a slang word for a police detective.

    a slang term for a detective, often used in urban or criminal contexts.

    Simple

    The street dealers vanished as soon as they spotted the dees.

    In context

    The informant was hesitant to speak, fearing that the dees were monitoring the phone booth from a distance.

This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Frequent
Updated