| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| level |
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| SYLLABICATION: | lev·el |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  l v  l |
| NOUN: | 1a. Relative position or rank on a scale: the local level of government; studying at the graduate level. b. A relative degree, as of achievement, intensity, or concentration: an unsafe level of toxicity; a high level of frustration. 2. A natural or proper position, place, or stage: I finally found my own level in the business world. 3. Position along a vertical axis; height or depth: a platform at knee level. 4a. A horizontal line or plane at right angles to the plumb. b. The position or height of such a line or plane. 5. A flat, horizontal surface. 6. A land area of uniform elevation. 7a. An instrument for ascertaining whether a surface is horizontal, vertical, or at a 45° angle, consisting essentially of an encased, liquid-filled tube containing an air bubble that moves to a center window when the instrument is set on an even plane. Also called spirit level. b. Such a device combined with a telescope and used in surveying. c. A computation of the difference in elevation between two points by using such a device. | | ADJECTIVE: | 1. Having a flat, smooth surface. 2. Being on a horizontal plane. 3a. Being at the same height or position as another; even. b. Being at the same degree of rank, standing, or advantage as another; equal. c. Being or relating to a specified rank or standing. Often used in combination: a lower-level administrator. 4. Exhibiting no abrupt variations; steady: spoke in a level tone. 5. Rational and balanced; sensible: came to a level appraisal of the situation; keeps a level head in an emergency. 6. Filled evenly to the top: a level tablespoon of the medicine. | | VERB: | Inflected forms: lev·eled or lev·elled, lev·el·ing or lev·el·ling, lev·els or lev·els
| | TRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To make horizontal, flat, or even: leveled the driveway with a roller; leveled off the hedges with the clippers. 2. To tear down; raze. 3. To knock down with or as if with a blow: The challenger leveled the champion with a mighty uppercut. 4. To place on the same level; equalize. 5. To aim along a horizontal plane: leveled the gun at the target. 6. To direct emphatically or forcefully toward someone: leveled charges of dishonesty. 7. To measure the different elevations of (a tract of land) with a level. | | INTRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To bring persons or things to an equal level; equalize. 2. To aim a weapon horizontally. 3. Informal To be frank and open: advised the suspect to level with the authorities. | | ADVERB: | Along a flat or even line or plane. | | PHRASAL VERB: | level off 1. To move toward stability or consistency: Prices leveled off. 2. To maneuver an aircraft into a flight attitude that is parallel to the surface of the earth after gaining or losing altitude. | | IDIOMS: | (one's) level best The best one can do in an earnest attempt: I did my level best in math class. on the level Informal Without deception; honest. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, an instrument to check that a surface is horizontal, from Old French livel, from Vulgar Latin *l bellum, from Latin lbella, diminutive of lbra, balance. | | OTHER FORMS: | level·ly —ADVERB
level·ness —NOUN
| | SYNONYMS: | level, flat1, even1, plane1, smooth, flush1 These adjectives describe surfaces without elevations or depressions. Level implies being parallel with the line of the horizon: acres of level farmland. Flat applies to surfaces without curves, protuberances, or indentations: a flat rock. Even refers to flat surfaces in which no part is higher or lower than another: the even surface of the mirror. Plane is a mathematical term referring to a surface containing all the straight lines connecting any two points on it: a plane figure. Smooth describes a surface on which the absence of irregularities can be established by sight or touch: smooth marble. Flush applies to a surface that is on an exact level with an adjoining one: a door that is flush with the wall. See also synonyms at aim.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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