level
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈlɛv.l̩/
rhymes: -ɛvəl
Forms: form: leveler
form: leveller
form: levelest
form: levellest
Etymology: From Middle English level, from Old French livel, liveau m, later nivel, niveau, from Latin libella f (“a balance, a level”), diminutive of libra f (“a balance, a level”); see libra, librate. Doublet of libella and niveau.
The verb is from Middle English levelen, from the noun.
Senses: examples: text: This table isn't quite level; see how this marble rolls off it?
text: the smooth and level pavement
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
synonyms: flush
glosses: The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.
examples: text: We tried to hang the pictures so that the bottom of the frames were level with the dark line in the wallpaper.
text: Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime. Their bases were on a level with the pavement outside, a narrow way which was several feet lower than the road behind the house.
ref: 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 14, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
glosses: At the same height as some reference; constructed as level with.
examples: text: His pulse has been level for 12 hours.
glosses: Unvaried in frequency.
examples: text: His voice has been unchanged. It has been level for 12 hours.
glosses: Unvaried in volume.
examples: text: He kept a level head under stress.
text: He kept a level gaze.
glosses: Calm.
examples: text: Young boys and girls
 Are level now with men.
ref: c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene xv]:
text: After a poor start to the season, Roy Hodgson's men are now unbeaten in four matches and 10th in the Premier League table, level with Aston Villa on 11 points.
ref: 2011 October 22, Sam Sheringham, “Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:
glosses: In the same position or rank.
examples: text: a very plain and level account
ref: 1873, Matthew Arnold, Literature and Dogma:
glosses: Straightforward; direct; clear.
examples: text: a level head; a level understanding
text: a level consideration
ref: c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
glosses: Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial.
examples: text: Intonation or tone is either level, rising, or falling, marked respectively
ref: 1891, Henry Sweet, A History of English Sounds from the Earliest Period:
topics: human-sciences
linguistics
phonetics
phonology
sciences
glosses: Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection; monotonic.
examples: text: The earth's oceans remain level in relation to the pull of gravity.
topics: natural-sciences
physical-sciences
physics
glosses: Perpendicular to a gravitational force.
Derived terms: bi-level
bilevel
block-level
county-level municipality
deep-level
delevel
downlevel
draw level
eigenlevel
forelevel
garden level
high-level
interlevel
intermediate-level
intralevel
levelable
levelage
level best
level-handed
level-headed
levelise
levelish
levelism
levelize
Levelland
levelless
levelly
levelman
levelness
level pegging
level playing field
level spoon
level term assurance
level test
level to the ground
levelwise
low-level
macrolevel
medium-level
mesolevel
metalevel
microlevel
mid-level
mislevel
multilevel
multilevels
nanolevel
nonlevel
on level terms
prefecture-level city
province-level city
province-level municipality
relevel
runlevel
state-level city
state-level municipality
sublevel
subsistence level
superlevel
top-level
trilevel
underlevel
unlevel
uplevel