# lea

/ˈɫi/ (US) · /lˈiː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lea
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a meadow

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a grassy field or meadow.

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

- The cattle grazed peacefully across the green lea as the sun began to set.
- The poet describes the lowing herd winding slowly o'er the lea, evoking a sense of pastoral stillness common in eighteenth-century verse.

### 5. a measure of yarn

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a specific length of thread or yarn.

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

- The weaver checked the weight of each lea before starting the loom.
- In traditional textile manufacturing, the fineness of the linen was determined by the number of leas required to make up a pound in weight.

## Examples

- The sheep grazed quietly in the green lea.
- The poet described the sun setting over the golden lea as the cattle returned home.
- In the pastoral tradition, the lea serves as a symbol of untroubled nature, contrasting sharply with the industrial landscapes that would eventually replace such idyllic scenes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.