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level Definition

level (lev′əl)

noun

  1. an instrument for determining, or adjusting a surface to, an even horizontal plane: it has a glass tube partly filled with liquid so as to leave an air bubble that moves to the exact center of the tube when the instrument is on an even horizontal plane; often there is another such tube which indicates when the instrument is perpendicular to the horizontal
    1. surveyor's level
    2. a measuring of differences in elevation with this instrument
    1. a horizontal plane or line; esp., such a plane taken as a basis for the measurement of elevation sea level
    2. the height, or altitude, of such a plane
  4. a relatively flat and even area of land or other surface; horizontal area
  5. the same horizontal plane to keep the tops of pictures on a level
  6. usual or normal position with reference to a certain height water seeks its level
  7. position, elevation, or rank considered as one of the planes in a scale of values levels of income
  8. a horizontal drift or gallery in a mine
  9. the degree of concentration of a substance in a fluid
  10. Physics the ratio of a quantity's magnitude to an arbitrarily selected magnitude

Etymology: OFr livel < VL *libellus < L libella, dim. of libra, a balance, level, weight

adjective

  1. having no part higher than any other; perfectly flat and even; conforming to the surface of still water
  2. conforming to the plane of the horizon; not sloping
  3. being of the same height or being in the same plane; even (with)
  4. even with the top of the container; not heaping a level teaspoonful
    1. equal in importance, rank, degree, etc.
    2. conforming to a specified level or rank high-level talks
    3. equally advanced in development
    4. even or uniform in tone, color, pitch, volume, rate, etc.
    1. not having or showing sudden differences or inequalities; well-balanced; equable
    2. not excited or disturbed; calm or steady
  7. paid or to be paid in equal amounts over a period of time
  8. ☆ Slang honest; straight

adverb

Now Rare on a level line

transitive verb -·eled or -·elled, -·el·ing or -·el·ling

  1. to make level; specif.,
    1. to make perfectly horizontal by means of a level
    2. to make flat and even
    3. to equalize in height, rank, quality, etc.: often with down or up
    4. to make even in tone, color, pitch, etc.
  2. to knock to the ground; demolish; lay low the storm leveled the tree
  3. to aim (a gun, etc.) for firing
  4. to aim or direct
  5. Surveying to determine the differences in altitude in (a plot of ground)

intransitive verb

  1. to aim a gun, etc. (at)
  2. to bring people or things to an equal rank, condition, etc.: usually with down or up
  3. ☆ Slang to be frank and honest (with someone)

level Related Forms
lev′·elly adverb lev′·el·ness noun
level Idioms

find one's level

or find its level

to reach one's proper or natural place according to one's qualities, capacity, etc.

level off

  1. to make flat and even
  2. to become horizontal, as an airplane in flight
  3. to become stable or constant

one's level best

Informal the best one can do

on the level

☆

Slang honest(ly) and fair(ly)

level Synonyms

level

modif.

  1. Smooth

    smooth, polished, rolled, planed; see flat 1, smooth 1.

  2. Of an even height

    even, flat, plane, regular, equal, uniform, flush, of the same height, in the same plane, common, same, constant, straight, true, parallel, equable, balanced, steady, unfluctuating, stable, trim, trimmed, precise, exact, matching, matched, unbroken, on a line, lined up, aligned, uninterrupted, continuous; see also parallel 1, smooth 1.

    Antonyms irregular*, uneven*, crooked. *

  3. Horizontal

    horizontal, plane, flat, leveled, true, flattened, tabular, recumbent, supine, lying prone; see also flat 1.

    Antonyms upright*, vertical*, perpendicular.

level describes a surface that has no part higher than any other, and is applied to a surface that is parallel to the plane of the horizon or that is the same height as, or in the same plane with, another; flat implies the absence to any marked degree of depressions or elevations in a surface, in whatever direction it lies; plane describes a real or imaginary surface that is absolutely flat and wholly contains every straight line joining any two points lying in it; even is applied to a surface that is uniformly level or flat, or to a surface that is in the same plane with, or in a plane parallel to, another; a smooth surface has no roughness or projections, often as a result of wear, planing, polishing, etc.

find one's (<strong><em>or</em> </strong>its) level

develop, find the proper place, find the proper station, suit; see fit 1, 2.

one's level best*

one's best, the best one can do, all one's effort; see best.

on the level*

fair, sincere, truthful; see honest 1.

level Synonyms

level

v.

  1. To straighten

    surface, bulldoze, equalize; see smooth 1, straighten.

  2. To demolish

    ruin, waste, wreck; see destroy 1.

  3. *To be honest with

    be frank with, be level with, be straight with, come to terms, be open and aboveboard.

level Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • competence: The level of competence expected of students intensifies at each stage of the program.

Converse of object

  • reach: Once they've reached a level of sound awareness, they'll be ready ' .
  • achieve: Achieve a 92 % level of satisfaction among customer organization.
  • reduce: A detox is a regime designed to reduce the toxin levels in our bodies.
  • maintain: Maintaining high levels of credit card debt is not prudent.
  • raise: This has enabled every home owner to re-mortgage, often raising significant levels of equity to use at their disposal.
  • increase: The government has highlighted its concern over increasing levels of obesity in children.

Adjective modifier

  • high: A high level of overtime was also being worked.
  • low: There is a low level of trust by the general public in the industry.
  • national: The report also calls for action at a national level to address shortages of psychologists.
  • different: There are a number of ' Central Sun's each bringing energy through at a different level.
  • local: These plans will be collated at local level to allow for each School or Departmental to assess their overall development needs.
  • appropriate: Measurements either not made to an appropriate level of accuracy or presented in a haphazard form.

Modifies a noun

  • navigation: No matter which section is accessed the top level navigation will always remain consistent.

Noun used with modifier

  • sea: We are all mountain people Whether we live at sea level or at the highest elevations, we are all mountain people.
  • blood: All responded within weeks, with blood sugar levels that were on average 20 % lower than the control group.
  • ground: North wall: modern rectangular window cut through batter just above ground level.
  • noise: There was also concern about high noise levels from headphones.
  • postgraduate: Written work is required in each of the postgraduate level seminars, 2,000 works in each.
  • staffing: Nine out of ten funds said their compliance staffing levels rose last year.
level Quotes

The dead level of provincial existence.

—Eliot, George pseudonym of  MaryAnn Evans

   I have always had the greatest contempt for novels written with a purpose. Fiction should render, not draw morals. But†I sinned against my gods to the extent of saying that I was goingöto the level of the light vouchsafed meöto write a work that should have for its purpose the obviating of all future wars.

—Ford, Ford Madox originally Ford Hermann Hueffer

   The 'men of the hour', the self-assured who strut among us in the jingling harness of their success and importance, how can you let yourself be irritated by them. Let them enjoy their triumphöon the level to which it belongs.

—Hammarskjo«  ld, Dag HjalmarAgne Carl

Diplomatic problems used to be discussed by ambassadors† Foreign Ministers were called†somebody thought of the summit meetings† Wearenearing themoment whenpolitical meetingswill be held at a divine level.

—Acheson, Dean Gooderham

In ease of body, peace of mind, all the different ranks of life are nearly upon a level and the beggar who suns himself by the side of the highway, possesses that security which kings are fighting for.

—Smith, Adam

Those who attempt to level never equalize.

—Burke, Edmund

Your levellerswishto leveldownas farasthemselves; but they cannot bear levelling up to themselves.

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson