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Webster 1913 Edition

Level

Lev′el

(lĕv′ĕl)
,
Noun.
[OE.
level
,
livel
, OF.
livel
, F.
niveau
, fr. L.
libella
level, water level, a plumb level, dim. of
libra
pound, measure for liquids, balance, water poise, level. Cf.
Librate
,
Libella
.]
1.
A line or surface to which, at every point, a vertical or plumb line is perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere parallel to the surface of still water; – this is the true level, and is a curve or surface in which all points are equally distant from the center of the earth, or rather would be so if the earth were an exact sphere.
2.
A horizontal line or plane; that is, a straight line or a plane which is tangent to a true level at a given point and hence parallel to the horizon at that point; – this is the apparent level at the given point.
3.
An approximately horizontal line or surface at a certain degree of altitude, or distance from the center of the earth;
as, to climb from the
level
of the coast to the
level
of the plateau and then descend to the
level
of the valley or of the sea
.
After draining of the
level
in Northamptonshire.
Sir M. Hale.
Shot from the deadly
level
of a gun.
Shakespeare
4.
Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of different elevation.
Providence, for the most part, sets us on a
level
.
Addison.
Somebody there of his own
level
.
Swift.
Be the fair
level
of thy actions laid
As temperance wills and prudence may persuade.
Prior.
5.
A uniform or average height; a normal plane or altitude; a condition conformable to natural law or which will secure a level surface;
as, moving fluids seek a
level
.
When merit shall find its
level
.
F. W. Robertson.
6.
(Mech. & Surv.)
(a)
An instrument by which to find a horizontal line, or adjust something with reference to a horizontal line.
(b)
A measurement of the difference of altitude of two points, by means of a level;
as, to take a
level
.
7.
A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine.
Air level
,
a spirit level
.
See
Spirit level
(below).
–
Box level
,
a spirit level in which a glass-covered box is used instead of a tube.
–
Carpenter’s level
,
Mason's level
,
either the plumb level or a straight bar of wood, in which is imbedded a small spirit level.
–
Level of the sea
,
the imaginary level from which heights and depths are calculated, taken at a mean distance between high and low water.
–
Line of levels
,
a connected series of measurements, by means of a level, along a given line, as of a railroad, to ascertain the profile of the ground.
–
Plumb level
,
one in which a horizontal bar is placed in true position by means of a plumb line, to which it is at right angles.
–
Spirit level
,
one in which the adjustment to the horizon is shown by the position of a bubble in alcohol or ether contained in a nearly horizontal glass tube, or a circular box with a glass cover.
–
Surveyor's level
,
a telescope, with a spirit level attached, and with suitable screws, etc., for accurate adjustment, the whole mounted on a tripod, for use in leveling; – called also
leveling instrument
.
–
Water level
,
an instrument to show the level by means of the surface of water in a trough, or in upright tubes connected by a pipe.

Lev′el

(lĕv′ĕl)
,
Adj.
1.
Even; flat; having no part higher than another; having, or conforming to, the curvature which belongs to the undisturbed liquid parts of the earth's surface;
as, a
level
field;
level
ground; the
level
surface of a pond or lake.
Ample spaces o'er the smooth
And
level
pavement.
Milton.
2.
Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal;
as, the telescope is now
level
.
3.
Even with anything else; of the same height; on the same line or plane; on the same footing; of equal importance; – followed by with, sometimes by to.
Young boys and girls
Are
level
now with men; the odds is gone.
Shakespeare
Everything lies
level
to our wish.
Shakespeare
4.
Straightforward; direct; clear; open.
A very plain and
level
account.
M. Arnold.
5.
Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial;
as, a
level
head; a
level
understanding.
[Colloq.]
“ A level consideration.”
Shak.
6.
(Phonetics)
Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection.
H. Sweet.
Level line
(Shipbuilding)
,
the outline of a section which is horizontal crosswise, and parallel with the rabbet of the keel lengthwise.
–
Level surface
(Physics)
,
an equipotential surface at right angles at every point to the lines of force.

Lev′el

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Leveled
(-ĕld)
or
Levelled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Leveling
or
Levelling
.]
1.
To make level; to make horizontal; to bring to the condition of a level line or surface; hence, to make flat or even;
as, to
level
a road, a walk, or a garden
.
2.
To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce to a flat surface; to lower.
And their proud structures
level
with the ground.
Sandys.
He
levels
mountains and he raises plains.
Dryden.
3.
To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in taking aim; to aim; to direct.
Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall,
leveled
a quarrel out of a crossbow.
Stow.
4.
Figuratively, to bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.;
as, to
level
all the ranks and conditions of men
.
5.
To adjust or adapt to a certain level;
as, to
level
remarks to the capacity of children
.
For all his mind on honor fixed is,
To which he
levels
all his purposes.
Spenser.

Lev′el

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit.
[Obs.]
With such accommodation and besort
As
levels
with her breeding.
Shakespeare
2.
To aim a gun, spear, etc., horizontally; hence, to aim or point a weapon in direct line with the mark; fig., to direct the eye, mind, or effort, directly to an object;
as, he
leveled
a gun at the bandit and fired
.
The foeman may with as great aim
level
at the edge of a penknife.
Shakespeare
The glory of God and the good of his church . . . ought to be the mark whereat we also
level
.
Hooker.
She
leveled
at our purposes.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition

Level

LEV'EL

,
Adj.
[Eng. sleek. L. libella, libra, belong to the root.]
1.
Horizontal; coinciding with the plane of the horizon. To be perfectly level is to be exactly horizontal.
2.
Even; flat; not having one part higher than another; not ascending or descending; as a level plain or field; level ground; a level floor or pavement. In common usage, level is often applied to surfaces that are not perfectly horizontal, but which have no inequalities of magnitude.
3.
Even with any thing else; of the same height; on the same line or plane.
4.
Equal in rank or degree; having no degree of superiority.
Be level in preferments, and you will soon be level in your learning.

LEV'EL

, v.t.
1.
To make horizontal.
2.
To make even; to reduce or remove inequalities of surface in any thing; as, to level a road or walk.
3.
To reduce or bring to the same height with something else.
And their proud structures level with the ground.
4.
To lay flat; to reduce to an even surface or plain.
he levels mountains, and he raises plains.
5.
To reduce to equality of condition, state or degree; as, to level all ranks and degrees of men.
6.
To point, in taking aim; to elevate or depress so as to direct a missile weapon to an object; to aim; as, to level a cannon or musket.
7.
To aim; to direct; as severe remarks leveled at the vices and follies of the age.
8.
To suit; to proportion; as, to level observations to the capacity of children.

LEV'EL

, v.i.
1.
To accord; to agree; to suit. [Little used.]
2.
To aim at; to point a gun or an arrow to the mark.
3.
To aim at; to direct the view or purpose.
The glory of God and the good of his church, ought to be the mark at which we level.
4.
To be aimed; to be in the same direction with the mark.
He raised it till he level'd right.
5.
To aim; to make attempts.
Ambitious York did level at thy crown.
6.
To conjecture; to attempt to guess. [Not used.]

LEV'EL

,
Noun.
1.
A horizontal line, or a plane; a surface without inequalities.
2.
Rate; standard; usual elevation; customary height; as the ordinary level of the world.
3.
Equal elevation with something else; a state of equality.
Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level.
4.
The line of direction in which a missile weapon is aimed.
5.
An instrument in mechanics by which to find or draw a horizontal line, as in setting buildings, or in making canals and drains. The instruments for these purposes are various; as the air level, the carpenter's level, the mason's level, and the gunner's level.
6.
Rule; plan; scheme: borrowed from the mechanic's level.
Be the fair level of thy actions laid. -

Definition 2024

Level

Level

See also: level and levél

German

Noun

Level m, n ‎(genitive Levels, plural Levels or Level)

  1. level (degree or amount)
  2. (gaming) level (one of several discrete segments of a game)

level

level

See also: Level and levél

English

Adjective

level ‎(comparative leveler, superlative levelest)

  1. The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.
    This table isn't quite level; see how this marble rolls off it?‎
  2. At the same height as some reference; constructed as level with.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 14, in The China Governess:
      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.
    We tried to hang the pictures so that the bottom of the frames were level with the dark line in the wallpaper.‎
  3. Unvaried in frequency.
    His pulse has been level for 12 hours.‎
  4. Unvaried in volume.
    His voice has been unchanged. It has been level for 12 hours.‎
  5. Calm.
    He kept a level head under stress.‎
  6. In the same position or rank.
    • Shakespeare
      Young boys and girls / Are level now with men.
    • 2011 October 22, Sam Sheringham, “Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:
      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.
  7. Straightforward; direct; clear.
  8. Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial.
    a level head; a level understanding
  9. (phonetics) Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection ; monotonic.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of H. Sweet to this entry?)

Antonyms

Derived terms

  • class-level
  • enterprise-level
  • nano-level

Related terms

Translations

Noun

level ‎(countable and uncountable, plural levels)

  1. A tool for finding whether a surface is level, or for creating a horizontal or vertical line of reference.
    Hand me the level so I can tell if this is correctly installed.‎
  2. A distance relative to a given reference elevation.
    By the end of the day, we'd dug down to the level of the old basement floor.‎
  3. Degree or amount.
    • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 17, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
      This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of a casual labourer.
    • 2013 May 17, George Monbiot, “Money just makes the rich suffer”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 23, page 19:
      In order to grant the rich these pleasures, the social contract is reconfigured. […]  The public realm is privatised, the regulations restraining the ultra–wealthy and the companies they control are abandoned, and Edwardian levels of inequality are almost fetishised.
    The sound level is much too high; this hurts my ears.   We've reached a new level of success.‎
  4. (computer science) Distance from the root node of a tree structure.
  5. (video games) One of several discrete segments of a game generally increasing in difficulty. Often numbered. Often, each level occupies different physical space (levels don't require any direct physical relationship to each other, e.g. vertically stacked, horizontally chained, etc).
    It took me weeks to get to level seven.   Watch out for the next level; the bad guys there are really overpowered.‎
  6. (role-playing games, video games) A numeric value that quantifies a character's experience and power.
    My half-orc barbarian reached fifth level before he was squashed by a troll.‎
  7. A floor of a multi-storey building.
    Take the elevator and get off at the promenade level.‎
  8. (Britain) An area of almost perfectly flat land.
  9. (Singapore, education) A school grade or year.

Hyponyms

Related terms

  • to the next level

Translations

See also

References

Verb

level ‎(third-person singular simple present levels, present participle leveling or levelling, simple past and past participle leveled or levelled)

  1. To adjust so as to make as flat or perpendicular to the ground as possible.
    You can level the table by turning the pads that **** into the feet.‎
  2. To destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze.
    The hurricane leveled the forest.‎
    • John Dryden (1631-1700)
      He levels mountains and he raises plains.
  3. (role-playing games, video games) To progress to the next level.
    I levelled after defeating the dragon.‎
  4. To aim or direct (a weapon, a stare, an accusation, etc).
    He levelled an accusation of fraud at the directors.  The hunter levels the gun before taking a shot.‎
    • John Stow (c.1525–1605)
      Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, levelled a quarrel out of a crossbow.
    • 1879, Richard Jefferies, The Amateur Poacher, chapter1:
      But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶ […] The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window […], and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.
  5. (sports) To make the score of a game equal.
    • 2012 April 9, Mandeep Sanghera, “Tottenham 1-2 Norwich”, in BBC Sport:
      Holt was furious referee Michael Oliver refused to then award him a penalty after Ledley King appeared to pull his shirt and his anger was compounded when Spurs immediately levelled.
  6. (nonstandard, rare) To levy.
    • 2007, Mary Jacoby, EU investigators endorse charges against Intel, Wall Street Journal Europe, 17 January, p.32, col.5:
      Ultimately, Ms. Kroes [European Union Antitrust Commissioner] could level a fine and order Intel to change its business practices.
  7. (figuratively) To bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.
    to level all the ranks and conditions of men‎
  8. To adjust or adapt to a certain level.
    to level remarks to the capacity of children‎
    • Edmund Spenser (c.1552–1599)
      For all his mind on honour fixed is, / To which he levels all his purposes.

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology

Borrowing from English level

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈlɛvl̩/
  • Hyphenation: Le‧vel

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