Adjacent Words

Level definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

LEV'EL, a. [Eng. sleek. L. libella, libra, belong to the root.]
1. Horizontal; coinciding with the plane of the horizon. To be perfectly level is to be exactly horizontal.
2. Even; flat; not having one part higher than another; not ascending or descending; as a level plain or field; level ground; a level floor or pavement. In common usage, level is often applied to surfaces that are not perfectly horizontal, but which have no inequalities of magnitude.
3. Even with any thing else; of the same height; on the same line or plane.
4. Equal in rank or degree; having no degree of superiority.
Be level in preferments, and you will soon be level in your learning.
LEV'EL, v.t.
1. To make horizontal.
2. To make even; to reduce or remove inequalities of surface in any thing; as, to level a road or walk.
3. To reduce or bring to the same height with something else.
And their proud structures level with the ground.
4. To lay flat; to reduce to an even surface or plain.
he levels mountains, and he raises plains.
5. To reduce to equality of condition, state or degree; as, to level all ranks and degrees of men.
6. To point, in taking aim; to elevate or depress so as to direct a missile weapon to an object; to aim; as, to level a cannon or musket.
7. To aim; to direct; as severe remarks leveled at the vices and follies of the age.
8. To suit; to proportion; as, to level observations to the capacity of children.
LEV'EL, v.i.
1. To accord; to agree; to suit. [Little used.]
2. To aim at; to point a gun or an arrow to the mark.
3. To aim at; to direct the view or purpose.
The glory of God and the good of his church, ought to be the mark at which we level.
4. To be aimed; to be in the same direction with the mark.
He raised it till he level'd right.
5. To aim; to make attempts.
Ambitious York did level at thy crown.
6. To conjecture; to attempt to guess. [Not used.]
LEV'EL, n.
1. A horizontal line, or a plane; a surface without inequalities.
2. Rate; standard; usual elevation; customary height; as the ordinary level of the world.
3. Equal elevation with something else; a state of equality.
Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level.
4. The line of direction in which a missile weapon is aimed.
5. An instrument in mechanics by which to find or draw a horizontal line, as in setting buildings, or in making canals and drains. The instruments for these purposes are various; as the air level, the carpenter's level, the mason's level, and the gunner's level.
6. Rule; plan; scheme: borrowed from the mechanic's level.
Be the fair level of thy actions laid. -

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another; "a flat desk"; "acres of level farmland"; "a plane surface"; "skirts sewn with fine flat seams" [syn: flat, level, plane]
2: not showing abrupt variations; "spoke in a level voice"; "she gave him a level look"- Louis Auchincloss [syn: level, unwavering]
3: being on a precise horizontal plane; "a billiard table must be level"
4: oriented at right angles to the plumb; "the picture is level"
5: of the score in a contest; "the score is tied" [syn: tied, even, level] n
1: a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality; "a moderate grade of intelligence"; "a high level of care is required"; "it is all a matter of degree" [syn: degree, grade, level]
2: a relative position or degree of value in a graded group; "lumber of the highest grade" [syn: grade, level, tier]
3: a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process; "a remarkable degree of frankness"; "at what stage are the social sciences?" [syn: degree, level, stage, point]
4: height above ground; "the water reached ankle level"; "the pictures were at the same level"
5: indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is centered in a tube of liquid [syn: level, spirit level]
6: a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line; "park the car on the level" [syn: horizontal surface, level]
7: an abstract place usually conceived as having depth; "a good actor communicates on several levels"; "a simile has at least two layers of meaning"; "the mind functions on many strata simultaneously" [syn: level, layer, stratum]
8: a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?" [syn: floor, level, storey, story] v
1: aim at; "level criticism or charges at somebody"
2: tear down so as to make flat with the ground; "The building was levelled" [syn: level, raze, rase, dismantle, tear down, take down, pull down] [ant: erect, put up, raise, rear, set up]
3: make level or straight; "level the ground" [syn: flush, level, even out, even]
4: direct into a position for use; "point a gun"; "He charged his weapon at me" [syn: charge, level, point]
5: talk frankly with; lay it on the line; "I have to level with you"
6: become level or even; "The ground levelled off" [syn: level, level off]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, plumb line, from Anglo-French livel, from Vulgar Latin *libellum, alteration of Latin libella, from diminutive of libra weight, balance Date: 14th century 1. a device for establishing a horizontal line or plane by means of a bubble in a liquid that shows adjustment to the horizontal by movement to the center of a slightly bowed glass tube 2. a measurement of the difference of altitude of two points by means of a level 3. horizontal condition; especially equilibrium of a fluid marked by a horizontal surface of even altitude <water seeks its own level> 4. a. an approximately horizontal line or surface taken as an index of altitude b. a practically horizontal surface or area (as of land) 5. a position in a scale or rank (as of achievement, significance, or value) <funded at the national level> <the job appeals to me on many levels> 6. a. a line or surface that cuts perpendicularly all plumb lines that it meets and hence would everywhere coincide with a surface of still water b. the plane of the horizon or a line in it 7. a horizontal passage in a mine intended for regular working and transportation 8. a concentration of a constituent especially of a body fluid (as blood) 9. the magnitude of a quantity considered in relation to an arbitrary reference value; broadly magnitude, intensity <a high level of hostility> II. verb (-eled or -elled; -eling or levelling) Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to make (a line or surface) horizontal ; make flat or level <level a field> <level off a house lot> 2. a. to bring to a horizontal aiming position b. aim, direct <leveled a charge of fraud> 3. to bring to a common level or plane ; equalize <love levels all ranks — W. S. Gilbert> 4. a. to lay level with or as if with the ground ; raze b. to knock down <leveled him with one punch> 5. to make (as color) even or uniform 6. to find the heights of different points in (a piece of land) especially with a surveyor's level intransitive verb 1. to attain or come to a level <the plane leveled off at 10,000 feet> 2. to aim a gun or other weapon horizontally 3. to bring persons or things to a level 4. to deal frankly and openly III. adjective Date: 15th century 1. a. having no part higher than another ; conforming to the curvature of the liquid parts of the earth's surface b. parallel with the plane of the horizon ; horizontal 2. a. even or unvarying in height b. equal in advantage, progression, or standing c. proceeding monotonously or uneventfully d. (1) steady, unwavering <gave him a level look> (2) calm, unexcited <spoke in level tones> 3. reasonable, balanced <arrive at a justly proportional and level judgment on this affair — Sir Winston Churchill> 4. distributed evenly <level stress> 5. being a surface perpendicular to all lines of force in a field of force ; equipotential 6. suited to a particular rank or plane of ability or achievement <top-level thinking> 7. of or relating to the spreading out of a cost or charge in even payments over a period of time • levelly adverb • levelness noun Synonyms: level, flat, plane, even, smooth mean having a surface without bends, curves, or irregularities. level applies to a horizontal surface that lies on a line parallel with the horizon <the vast prairies are nearly level>. flat applies to a surface devoid of noticeable curvatures, prominences, or depressions <the work surface must be flat>. plane applies to any real or imaginary flat surface in which a straight line between any two points on it lies wholly within that surface <the plane sides of a crystal>. even applies to a surface that is noticeably flat or level or to a line that is observably straight <trim the hedge so it is even>. smooth applies especially to a polished surface free of irregularities <a smooth skating rink>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n., adj., & v. --n. 1 a horizontal line or plane. 2 a height or value reached, a position on a real or imaginary scale (eye level; sugar level in the blood; danger level). 3 a social, moral, or intellectual standard. 4 a plane of rank or authority (discussions at Cabinet level). 5 a an instrument giving a line parallel to the plane of the horizon for testing whether things are horizontal. b Surveying an instrument for giving a horizontal line of sight. 6 a more or less level surface. 7 a flat tract of land. --adj. 1 having a flat and even surface; not bumpy. 2 horizontal; perpendicular to the plumb-line. 3 (often foll. by with) a on the same horizontal plane as something else. b having equality with something else. c (of a spoonful etc.) with the contents flat with the brim. 4 even, uniform, equable, or well-balanced in quality, style, temper, judgement, etc. 5 (of a race) having the leading competitors close together. --v. (levelled, levelling; US leveled, leveling) 1 tr. make level, even, or uniform. 2 tr. (often foll. by to (or with) the ground, in the dust) raze or demolish. 3 tr. (also absol.) aim (a missile or gun). 4 tr. (also absol.; foll. by at, against) direct (an accusation, criticism, or satire). 5 tr. abolish (distinctions). 6 intr. (usu. foll. by with) sl. be frank or honest. 7 tr. place on the same level. 8 tr. (also absol.) Surveying ascertain differences in the height of (land). Phrases and idioms: do one's level best colloq. do one's utmost; make all possible efforts. find one's level 1 reach the right social, intellectual, etc. place in relation to others. 2 (of a liquid) reach the same height in receptacles or regions which communicate with each other. level crossing Brit. a crossing of a railway and a road, or two railways, at the same level. level down bring down to a standard. levelling-screw a screw for adjusting parts of a machine etc. to an exact level. level off make or become level or smooth. level out make or become level, remove differences from. level pegging Brit. equality of scores or achievements. level up bring up to a standard. on the level colloq. adv. honestly, without deception. --adj. honest, truthful. on a level with 1 in the same horizontal plane as. 2 equal with. Derivatives: levelly adv. levelness n. Etymology: ME f. OF livel ult. f. L libella dimin. of libra scales, balance

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Level Lev"el (l[e^]v"[e^]l), n. [OE. level, livel, OF. livel, F. niveau, fr. L. libella level, water level, a plumb level, dim. of libra pound, measure for liquids, balance, water poise, level. Cf. Librate, Libella.] 1. A line or surface to which, at every point, a vertical or plumb line is perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere parallel to the surface of still water; -- this is the true level, and is a curve or surface in which all points are equally distant from the center of the earth, or rather would be so if the earth were an exact sphere. 2. A horizontal line or plane; that is, a straight line or a plane which is tangent to a true level at a given point and hence parallel to the horizon at that point; -- this is the apparent level at the given point. 3. An approximately horizontal line or surface at a certain degree of altitude, or distance from the center of the earth; as, to climb from the level of the coast to the level of the plateau and then descend to the level of the valley or of the sea. After draining of the level in Northamptonshire. --Sir M. Hale. Shot from the deadly level of a gun. --Shak. 4. Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of different elevation. Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level. --Addison. Somebody there of his own level. --Swift. Be the fair level of thy actions laid As temperance wills and prudence may persuade. --Prior. 5. A uniform or average height; a normal plane or altitude; a condition conformable to natural law or which will secure a level surface; as, moving fluids seek a level. When merit shall find its level. --F. W. Robertson. 6. (Mech. & Surv.) (a) An instrument by which to find a horizontal line, or adjust something with reference to a horizontal line. (b) A measurement of the difference of altitude of two points, by means of a level; as, to take a level. 7. A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine. Air level, a spirit level. See Spirit level (below). Box level, a spirit level in which a glass-covered box is used instead of a tube. Carpenter's level, Mason's level, either the plumb level or a straight bar of wood, in which is imbedded a small spirit level. Level of the sea, the imaginary level from which heights and depths are calculated, taken at a mean distance between high and low water. Line of levels, a connected series of measurements, by means of a level, along a given line, as of a railroad, to ascertain the profile of the ground. Plumb level, one in which a horizontal bar is placed in true position by means of a plumb line, to which it is at right angles. Spirit level, one in which the adjustment to the horizon is shown by the position of a bubble in alcohol or ether contained in a nearly horizontal glass tube, or a circular box with a glass cover. Surveyor's level, a telescope, with a spirit level attached, and with suitable screws, etc., for accurate adjustment, the whole mounted on a tripod, for use in leveling; -- called also leveling instrument. Water level, an instrument to show the level by means of the surface of water in a trough, or in upright tubes connected by a pipe.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Level Lev"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leveled (-[e^]ld) or Levelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Leveling or Levelling.] 1. To make level; to make horizontal; to bring to the condition of a level line or surface; hence, to make flat or even; as, to level a road, a walk, or a garden. 2. To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce to a flat surface; to lower. And their proud structures level with the ground. --Sandys. He levels mountains and he raises plains. --Dryden. 3. To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in taking aim; to aim; to direct. Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, leveled a quarrel out of a crossbow. --Stow. 4. Figuratively, to bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.; as, to level all the ranks and conditions of men. 5. To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level remarks to the capacity of children. For all his mind on honor fixed is, To which he levels all his purposes. --Spenser.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Level Lev"el (l[e^]v"[e^]l), a. 1. Even; flat; having no part higher than another; having, or conforming to, the curvature which belongs to the undisturbed liquid parts of the earth's surface; as, a level field; level ground; the level surface of a pond or lake. Ample spaces o'er the smooth And level pavement. --Milton. 2. Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal; as, the telescope is now level. 3. Even with anything else; of the same height; on the same line or plane; on the same footing; of equal importance; -- followed by with, sometimes by to. Young boys and girls Are level now with men; the odds is gone. --Shak. Everything lies level to our wish. --Shak. 4. Straightforward; direct; clear; open. A very plain and level account. --M. Arnold. 5. Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level head; a level understanding. [Colloq.] `` A level consideration.'' --Shak. 6. (Phonetics) Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection. --H. Sweet. Level line (Shipbuilding), the outline of a section which is horizontal crosswise, and parallel with the rabbet of the keel lengthwise. Level surface (Physics), an equipotential surface at right angles at every point to the lines of force.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Level Lev"el, v. i. 1. To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit. [Obs.] With such accommodation and besort As levels with her breeding. --Shak. 2. To aim a gun, spear, etc., horizontally; hence, to aim or point a weapon in direct line with the mark; fig., to direct the eye, mind, or effort, directly to an object. The foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife. --Shak. The glory of God and the good of his church . . . ought to be the mark whereat we also level. --Hooker. She leveled at our purposes. --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(levels, levelling, levelled) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Note: in AM, use 'leveling', 'leveled' 1. A level is a point on a scale, for example a scale of amount, quality, or difficulty. If you don't know your cholesterol level, it's a good idea to have it checked... We do have the lowest level of inflation for some years... The exercises are marked according to their level of difficulty. N-COUNT: with supp 2. The level of a river, lake, or ocean or the level of liquid in a container is the height of its surface. The water level of the Mississippi River is already 6.5 feet below normal... The gauge relies upon a sensor in the tank to relay the fuel level. N-SING: the N see also sea level 3. In cookery, a level spoonful of a substance such as flour or sugar is an amount that fills the spoon exactly, without going above the top edge. Stir in 1 level teaspoon of yeast. ? heaped ADJ: ADJ n 4. If something is at a particular level, it is at that height. Liz sank down until the water came up to her chin and the bubbles were at eye level. N-SING: usu supp N 5. If one thing is level with another thing, it is at the same height as it. He leaned over the counter so his face was almost level with the boy's... Amy knelt down so that their eyes were level. ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n 6. When something is level, it is completely flat with no part higher than any other. The floor was level, but the ceiling sloped toward his head. ...a plateau of fairly level ground. ADJ 7. If you draw level with someone or something, you get closer to them until you are by their side. (mainly BRIT) Just before we drew level with the gates, he slipped out of the jeep and disappeared into the crowd... ADV: ADV after v • Level is also an adjective. He waited until they were level with the door before he turned around sharply and punched Graham. ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n 8. If someone or something such as a violent storm levels a building or area of land, they destroy it completely or make it completely flat. The storm was the most powerful to hit Hawaii this century. It leveled sugar plantations and destroyed homes. VERB: V n 9. If an accusation or criticism is levelled at someone, they are accused of doing wrong or they are criticized for something they have done. Allegations of corruption were levelled at him and his family... He leveled bitter criticism against the US. VERB: be V-ed at/against n, V n at/against n, also V n 10. If you level an object at someone or something, you lift it and point it in their direction. He said thousands of Koreans still levelled guns at one another along the demilitarised zone between them. VERB: V n at n, also V n 11. If you level with someone, you tell them the truth and do not keep anything secret. (INFORMAL) I'll level with you. I'm no great detective. I've no training or anything... VERB: V with n 12. see also A level 13. If you say that you will do your level best to do something, you are emphasizing that you will try as hard as you can to do it, even if the situation makes it very difficult. The President told American troops that he would do his level best to bring them home soon. PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR to-inf [emphasis] 14. a level playing field: see playing field

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Horizontal. 2. Even, flat, plain. 3. Flush, on a level, of the same height. 4. Of the same rank, condition, etc., on a par. II. v. a. 1. Make horizontal. 2. Bring to the same level. 3. Raze, demolish, destroy. 4. Aim, direct, point, take aim. 5. Adapt, suit, fit, proportion. III. n. 1. Horizontal surface, horizontal line. 2. State of equality, equal elevation.

Moby Thesaurus

IC analysis, accommodate, accordant, address, adjust, aim, akin, alabaster, align, aligned, alike, alkali flat, alluvial plain, altitude, amount, appositive, arrowlike, assimilate to, at full length, at par, attribute, attributive, automatic, balance, balanced, band, basin, beat down, bed, bedding, belt, billiard table, blood, blow down, blow over, bottomland, bowl down, bowl over, bowling alley, bowling green, bracket, branch, break down, bring down, bulldog, bulldoze, burn down, bushveld, caliber, campo, cancel, cast, cast down, caste, category, champaign, champaign country, chop down, clan, class, clerestory, coastal plain, commensurate, compass, compensate, complement, consistent, consonant, constant, construction modifier, continuous, coordinate, correspondent, couche, counterbalance, counterpoise, countervail, course, cut, cut down, cutting, dab, damp, dash down, dead flat, dead level, dead straight, deck, deep structure, defensible, degree, delta, demolish, desert, deserved, destroy, devastate, direct, direct object, division, down, downs, downy, drag, drawn, dress, drop, dub, due, earth, elevation, entresol, equable, equal, equalize, equalized, equate, equilibrize, equitable, equivalent, esplanade, estate, even, even stephen, even up, evenhanded, evenly, extent, fair, fair and square, fell, fetch down, fifty-fifty, filler, first floor, fit, flat, flat country, flatland, flatly, flats, flatten, flattened, flatways, flatwise, floor, flush, focus, form-function unit, function, gallery, glabrate, glabrescent, glabrous, glass, good, grade, grass veld, grassland, grease, ground, ground floor, group, grouping, half-and-half, harmonize, harrow, head, heading, heath, height, hew down, homaloid, homaloidal, homogeneous, homogenize, honest, horizontal, horizontal axis, horizontal fault, horizontal line, horizontal parallax, horizontal plane, horizontal projection, horizontally, ice, identical, immediate constituent analysis, immutable, in a line, incline, indirect object, integrate, interval, invariable, ivory, just, justifiable, justified, kin, knock down, knock over, knotted, label, lande, lawful, lay, lay down, lay flat, lay level, lay low, lay out, lay waste, layer, leap, ledge, legal, leiotrichous, lengthways, lengthwise, level line, level off, level plane, level with, level-headed, levels, like, lineal, linear, llano, lowland, lowlands, lubricate, lunar mare, mahogany, make uniform, marble, mare, mark, mean sea level, measure, measured, measures, mechanical, meet, meet and right, merited, mesa, mesilla, methodic, mezzanine, mezzanine floor, modifier, monolithic, moor, moorland, mow, mow down, nip and tuck, normalize, notch, nuance, object, of a piece, oil, on a footing, on a level, on a par, on even ground, on the level, open, open country, order, ordered, orderly, overlayer, overstory, pampa, pampas, par, parallel, parterre, pas, peg, peneplain, period, persistent, phrase structure, pigeonhole, pitch, plain, plains, plane, planish, plaster, plateau, platform, playa, point, poise, position, prairie, precipitate, predicament, predicate, prone, proper, proportion, proportionate, prostrate, pull down, qualifier, quits, race, range, rank, ranks, rase, rating, ratio, raze, reach, rectilineal, rectilinear, regular, regularize, regulate, remove, rez-de-chaussee, right, right and proper, rightful, robotlike, roll, roll flat, rolled, round, rubric, ruler-straight, rung, salt flat, salt marsh, salt pan, same, satin, savanna, scale, scope, sea level, sea of grass, seam, sebkha, section, send headlong, sept, set, shade, shadow, shallow structure, shave, shelf, shoot straight, silk, similar, sincere, slide, slot, slot and filler, smash, smooth, smooth down, smooth out, smooth-shaven, smooth-textured, smoothed out, smoothen, smoothened, space, spread-eagle, square, squashed, squashed flat, stabilize, stable, stage, stair, stalemated, standard, standardize, standing, station, status, steadfast, steady, steamroll, steamroller, step, steppe, stereotype, stint, story, straight, straight-cut, straight-front, straight-shooting, straight-side, straightforward, strain, strata, stratum, streamlined, street floor, strike a balance, structure, suave, subdivision, subgroup, subject, suborder, substratum, superstratum, supinate, supine, surface structure, symmetrize, syntactic analysis, syntactic structure, syntactics, syntax, systematic, table, tableland, tabloid, tabular, tagmeme, take down, tear down, tennis court, terrace, thickness, throw, throw down, tied, tier, title, topple, topsoil, train, tread, tree veld, trip, trodden, trodden flat, true, tumble, tundra, turn, unalterable, unbending, unbent, unbowed, unbroken, unchangeable, unchanged, unchanging, uncurved, undeflected, underlayer, underlying structure, understory, understratum, undeviating, undifferentiated, undistorted, undiversified, uniform, uniformize, uninterrupted, unrough, unroughened, unruffled, unswerving, unturned, unvaried, unvarying, up on, upland, upright, vega, veld, velvet, vertical, very, warrantable, warranted, water level, weald, whack down, wide-open spaces, with, wold, word arrangement, word order, wreck, zero, zone