l]
adjective, noun, verb, -eled, -el⋅ing or (especially British
) -elled, -el⋅ling, adverb | 1. | having no part higher than another; having a flat or even surface. |
| 2. | being in a plane parallel to the plane of the horizon; horizontal. |
| 3. | equal, as one thing with another or two or more things with one another. |
| 4. | even, equable, or uniform. |
| 5. | filled to a height even with the rim of a container: a level teaspoon of salt. |
| 6. | mentally well-balanced; sensible; rational: to keep a level head in a crisis. |
| 7. | a device used for determining or adjusting something to a horizontal surface. |
| 8. | Surveying.
|
| 9. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 28. | to bring things or persons to a common level. |
| 29. | to aim a weapon, criticism, etc., at a mark or objective. |
| 30. | Surveying.
|
| 31. | to speak truthfully and openly (often fol. by with): You're not leveling with me about your trip to Chicago. |
| 32. | Obsolete. to direct the mind, purpose, etc., at something. |
| 33. | Obsolete. in a level, direct, or even way or line. |
| 34. | level off,
|
| 35. | find one's or 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? |

lev·el (lěv'əl) n.
v. tr.
Phrasal Verb(s): level off
Idiom(s): (one's) level bestThe best one can do in an earnest attempt: I did my level best in math class. Idiom(s): on the level Informal Without deception; honest. [Middle English, an instrument to check that a surface is horizontal, from Old French livel, from Vulgar Latin *lībellum, from Latin lībella, diminutive of lībra, balance.] lev'el·ly adv., lev'el·ness n. Synonyms: These adjectives describe surfaces without elevations or depressions. Level implies being parallel with the line of the horizon: acres of level farmland. |
Honest, without deception: “We doubted that the offer could be genuine, but it turned out to be on the level.”
on the level
|
level lev·el (lěv'əl)
n.
Relative position or rank on a graded scale, such as mental or emotional development.
A relative degree, as of intensity or concentration.
on the level
Honest, straightforward, sincere, as in You can believe her
she's on the level. This expression may have come from Freemasonry, where the carpenter's level symbolizes integrity. [Late 1800s]