ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lea

n.
US //ˈɫi// UK //lˈiː// lea
  1. 1 a meadow (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary Archaic

    a grassy field or meadow.

    an open area of grassy land, such as a meadow or pasture.

    Example

    The cattle grazed peacefully across the green lea as the sun began to set.

    Example

    The poet describes the lowing herd winding slowly o'er the lea, evoking a sense of pastoral stillness common in eighteenth-century verse.
  2. 2 a measure of yarn (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    a specific length of thread or yarn.

    a unit of measure for yarn that varies in length depending on the material, such as 300 yards for linen.

    Example

    The weaver checked the weight of each lea before starting the loom.

    Example

    In traditional textile manufacturing, the fineness of the linen was determined by the number of leas required to make up a pound in weight.

Last updated June 20, 2026