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noun Common

Leicester

LEHS-tuh

Leicester (noun) means a breed of English sheep prized for both its meat and its long, lustrous wool. Example: “The farm kept a small flock of Leicester sheep for wool.”

noun
1
A breed of English sheep prized for both its meat and its long, lustrous wool.
"The farm kept a small flock of Leicester sheep for wool."
name
1
A city and county town in the English Midlands.
"The team plays its home matches in Leicester."

How to use Leicester

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishChiefly an English city name; also a sheep breed named after the same region.

Easily confused with

Word forms

Leicesters plural

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Test yourself on “Leicester” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The farm kept a small flock of _____ sheep for wool.

Etymology

From Middle English Ledecestre, itself from an Old English name combining a river-name element with "ceaster," meaning a fortified Roman town.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for Leicester

See all rhymes for Leicester →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Leicester” mean?

The word “Leicester” means a breed of English sheep prized for both its meat and its long, lustrous wool. In plain terms, chiefly an English city name; also a sheep breed named after the same region.

How do you pronounce “Leicester”?

“Leicester” is pronounced LEHS-tuh (/ˈlɛstɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “Leicester” in a sentence?

Here is “Leicester” used in a sentence: “The farm kept a small flock of Leicester sheep for wool.”

What part of speech is “Leicester”?

Depending on how it is used, “Leicester” can be a noun and a name.

Where does the word “Leicester” come from?

The word “Leicester” comes from Old English. From Middle English Ledecestre, itself from an Old English name combining a river-name element with "ceaster," meaning a fortified Roman town.

Is “Leicester” a common word?

“Leicester” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Leicester” have?

“Leicester” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a breed of English sheep prized for both its meat and its long, lustrous wool.

What is the difference between Leicester and Leicestershire?

Leicester is a city and the county town in the English Midlands, while Leicestershire is the larger county that surrounds and contains it. Leicester is the urban centre; Leicestershire is the wider shire county.

What is a Leicester sheep known for?

The Leicester is a breed of English sheep prized for both its meat and its long, lustrous wool. Its shiny, hard-wearing fleece makes it especially valued by hand-spinners.

Is "Leicester" a place or a type of sheep?

It is both. "Leicester" names a city and county town in the English Midlands, and it is also a breed of English sheep raised for meat and wool. Context usually makes clear which one is meant.

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