noun
Common
Dee
dee
Dee (noun) means the letter D. Example: “He wrote a big capital dee at the top of the page.”
noun
1
The letter D.
"He wrote a big capital dee at the top of the page."
2
Informal British slang for a police detective.
"A couple of dees showed up asking questions about the burglary."
name
1
A unisex first name, typically short for a longer name starting with D, such as Deborah or Dennis.
"Everyone at work just calls her Dee."
2
The name of several rivers in the UK and Ireland, including one in Scotland and one flowing between Wales and England.
"They went salmon fishing on the River Dee."
How to use Dee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often either a nickname short for a D-name, the letter D itself, or one of several rivers called Dee.
Common pairings
the River Dee
go by Dee
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Word forms
- Plural
- dees
- Third person singular
- diz
- Past tense
- dyun
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He wrote a big capital _____ at the top of the page.
Etymology
As a letter name, simply the name of "D"; the river name has separate Celtic origins; the nickname use is a short form of D-names.
Rhymes for Dee
See all rhymes for Dee →Frequently asked questions
What does “Dee” mean?
The word “Dee” means a unisex first name, typically short for a longer name starting with D, such as Deborah or Dennis. In plain terms, most often either a nickname short for a D-name, the letter D itself, or one of several rivers called Dee.
How do you pronounce “Dee”?
“Dee” is pronounced dee (/diː/ in IPA).
How do you use “Dee” in a sentence?
Here is “Dee” used in a sentence: “Everyone at work just calls her Dee.”
What part of speech is “Dee”?
Depending on how it is used, “Dee” can be a name and a noun.
Is “Dee” a common word?
“Dee” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Dee” have?
“Dee” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a unisex first name, typically short for a longer name starting with D, such as Deborah or Dennis.
Why is Dee often used as a nickname?
Dee works as a short, easy-to-say nickname for any longer first name that starts with the letter D, such as Deborah or Dennis. It's popular because it's unisex, informal, and simple to shout across a room.
What does Dee mean in British slang?
In informal British usage, a dee is a police detective. It's a casual, spoken shorthand rather than a formal or written term.
Is Dee the name of a real river?
Yes, Dee is the name of several rivers in the UK and Ireland, including one that rises in Scotland and another that flows along part of the border between Wales and England.
