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level

[lev-uhl]

Example Sentences Origin

adjective

having no part higher than another; having a flat or even surface.

being in a plane parallel to the plane of the horizon; horizontal.

equal, as one thing with another or two or more things with one another.

even, equable, or uniform.

filled to a height even with the rim of a container: a level teaspoon of salt.

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mentally well-balanced; sensible; rational: to keep a level head in a crisis.

COLLAPSE

noun

a device used for determining or adjusting something to a horizontal surface.

Surveying.

Also called surveyor's level. an instrument for observing levels, having a sighting device, usually telescopic, and capable of being made precisely horizontal.

an observation made with this instrument.

spirit level.

an imaginary line or surface everywhere at right angles to the plumb line.

10.

the horizontal line or plane in which anything is situated, with regard to its elevation.

11.

a horizontal position or condition.

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12.

an extent of land approximately horizontal and unbroken by irregularities.

13.

a level or flat surface.

14.

a position with respect to a given or specified height: The water rose to a level of 30 feet.

15.

a position or plane in a graded scale of values; status; rank: His acting was on the level of an amateur. They associated only with those on their own economic level.

16.

an extent, measure, or degree of intensity, achievement, etc.: a high level of sound; an average level of writing skill.

17.

Linguistics. a major subdivision of linguistic structure, as phonology, morphology, or syntax, often viewed as hierarchically ordered. Compare component (def. 6a), stratum (def. 8).

18.

Mining. the interconnected horizontal mine workings at a particular elevation or depth: There had been a cave-in on the 1500-foot level.

COLLAPSE

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Level is one of our favorite verbs.

So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:

to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.

to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.

LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

verb (used with object)

19.

to make (a surface) level, even, or flat: to level ground before building.

20.

to raise or lower to a particular level or position; to make horizontal.

21.

to bring (something) to the level of the ground: They leveled the trees to make way for the new highway.

22.

Informal. to knock down (a person): He leveled his opponent with one blow.

23.

to make equal, as in status or condition.

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24.

to make even or uniform, as coloring.

25.

Historical Linguistics. (of the alternative forms of a paradigm) to reduce in number or regularize: Old English “him” (dative) and “hine” (accusative) have been leveled to Modern English “him.”

26.

to aim or point (a weapon, criticism, etc.) at a mark or objective: He leveled his criticism at the college as a whole.

27.

Surveying. to find the relative elevation of different points in (land), as with a level.

COLLAPSE

verb (used without object)

28.

to bring things or persons to a common level.

29.

to aim a weapon, criticism, etc., at a mark or objective.

30.

Surveying.

to take a level.

to use a leveling instrument.

31.

to speak truthfully and openly (often followed by with): You're not leveling with me about your trip to Chicago.

32.

Obsolete. to direct the mind, purpose, etc., at something.

adverb

33.

Obsolete. in a level, direct, or even way or line.

Verb phrase

34.

level off,

Aeronautics. to maintain a constant altitude after a climb or descent.

to become stable; reach a constant or limit.

to make even or smooth.

Idioms

35.

find one's (own) level, to attain the place or position merited by one's abilities or achievements: He finally found his level as one of the directors of the firm.

36.

one's level best, one's very best; one's utmost: We tried our level best to get here on time.

37.

on the level, Informal. honest; sincere; reliable: Is this information on the level?

Origin:
1300–50; Middle English (noun and v.), variant of livel (noun) < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *lībellum, for Latin lībella plummet line, level, diminutive of lībra balance, scales; for formation, see castellum

Related forms

lev·el·ly, adverb

lev·el·ness, noun

an·ti·lev·el·ing, adjective

an·ti·lev·el·ling, adjective

in·ter·lev·el, adjective

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non·lev·el, adjective

re·lev·el, verb, re·lev·eled, re·lev·el·ing or (especially British) re·lev·elled, re·lev·el·ling.

self-lev·el·ing, adjective

self-lev·el·ling, adjective

un·der·lev·el, adjective

un·lev·el, adjective

un·lev·el·ly, adverb

un·lev·el·ness, noun

un·lev·eled, adjective

un·lev·elled, adjective

well-lev·eled, adjective

well-lev·elled, adjective

COLLAPSE

Synonyms
1, 2. flush. Level, even, flat, smooth suggest a uniform surface without marked unevenness. That which is level is parallel to the horizon: a level surface; A billiard table must be level. Flat is applied to any plane surface free from marked irregularities: a flat roof. With reference to land or country, flat connotes lowness or unattractiveness; level does not suggest anything derogatory. That which is even is free from irregularities, though not necessarily level or plane: an even land surface with no hills. Smooth suggests a high degree of evenness in any surface, especially to the touch and sometimes to the sight: as smooth as silk. 19. smooth, flatten. 21. raze, demolish, destroy. 23. equalize. 26. direct.

Antonyms
1. uneven. 2. vertical.

Link To LEVEL

Example Sentences

The new faculty member will teach introductory chemistry and upper level inorganic chemistry and will direct student research.

Adjust position of grill if necessary so grill and liquid in pan are level.

If the trend continues, sea level will rise, posing the threat of inundation to coastal cities and entire island countries.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

level (ˈlɛv^əl)

—*adj*
1.	on a horizontal plane
2.	having a surface of completely equal height
3.	being of the same height as something else
4.	(of quantities to be measured, as in recipes) even with the top of the cup, spoon, etc
5.	equal to or even with (something or someone else)
6.	not having or showing inconsistency or irregularities
7.	Also: level-headed even-tempered; steady

—vb (sometimes foll by off) (often foll by with) , -els, -elling, -elled, -els, -eling, -eled
8.	to make (a surface) horizontal, level, or even
9.	to make (two or more people or things) equal, as in position or status
10.	(tr) to raze to the ground
11.	(tr) to knock (a person) down by or as if by a blow
12.	(tr) to direct (a gaze, criticism, etc) emphatically at someone
13.	informal to be straightforward and frank
14.	(intr; foll by off or out) to manoeuvre an aircraft into a horizontal flight path after a dive, climb, or glide
15.	(often foll by at) to aim (a weapon) horizontally
16.	surveying to determine the elevation of a section of (land), sighting through a levelling instrument to a staff at successive pairs or points

—n
17.	a horizontal datum line or plane
18.	a device, such as a spirit level, for determining whether a surface is horizontal
19.	Abney level See dumpy level a surveying instrument consisting basically of a telescope with a spirit level attached, used for measuring relative heights of land
20.	a reading of the difference in elevation of two points taken with such an instrument
21.	position or status in a scale of values
22.	amount or degree of progress; stage
23.	a specified vertical position; altitude
24.	a horizontal line or plane with respect to which measurement of elevation is based: sea level
25.	a flat even surface or area of land
26.	a horizontal passage or drift in a mine
27.	any of the successive layers of material that have been deposited with the passage of time to build up and raise the height of the land surface
28.	physics the ratio of the magnitude of a physical quantity to an arbitrary magnitude: sound-pressure level
29.	do one's level best to make every possible effort; try one's utmost
30.	find one's level to find one's most suitable place socially, professionally, etc
31.	on a level on the same horizontal plane as another
32.	informal on the level sincere, honest, or genuine

[C14: from Old French livel, from Vulgar Latin lībellum (unattested), from Latin lībella, diminutive of lībra scales]

'levelly

—*adv*

'levelness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

level

mid-14c., from O.Fr. livel, from L. libella "a balance, level," dim. of libra "balance, scale, unit of weight." The adj. is 1559, from the noun. The verb in the slang sense of "tell the truth" is from 1920. Cognate Sp. nivel, Mod.Fr. niveau are from the same source but altered by dissimilation.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

level lev·el (lěv'əl)
n.