level

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: lev=el
• COUNT in NET: 14 in 14 verses (in OT : 13 in 13 verses) (in NT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

level, n. [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.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "After draining of the level in Northamptonshire."  [1913 Webster]

  "Shot from the deadly level of a gun."  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of different elevation.  [1913 Webster]

  "Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level."  [1913 Webster]

  "Somebody there of his own level."  [1913 Webster]

  "Be the fair level of thy actions laid
  As temperance wills and prudence may persuade."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "When merit shall find its level."  [1913 Webster]
•  An instrument by which to find a horizontal line, or adjust something with reference to a horizontal line.  [1913 Webster]
•  A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine.  [1913 Webster]

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.

level, a. 

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Ample spaces o'er the smooth
  And level pavement."  [1913 Webster]
•  Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal; as, the telescope is now level.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Young boys and girls
  Are level now with men; the odds is gone."  [1913 Webster]

  "Everything lies level to our wish."  [1913 Webster]
•  Straightforward; direct; clear; open.  [1913 Webster]

  "A very plain and level account."  [1913 Webster]
•  Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level head; a level understanding. [Colloq.]  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection.  H. Sweet.  [1913 Webster]

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.

level, v. t. 

•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce to a flat surface; to lower.  [1913 Webster]

  "And their proud structures level with the ground."  [1913 Webster]

  "He levels mountains and he raises plains."  [1913 Webster]
•  To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in taking aim; to aim; to direct.  [1913 Webster]

  "Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, leveled a quarrel out of a crossbow."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level remarks to the capacity of children.  [1913 Webster]

  "For all his mind on honor fixed is,
  To which he levels all his purposes."  [1913 Webster]

level, v. i. 

•  To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit.  [1913 Webster]

  "With such accommodation and besort
  As levels with her breeding."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "The foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife."  [1913 Webster]

  "The glory of God and the good of his church . . . ought to be the mark whereat we also level."  [1913 Webster]

  "She leveled at our purposes."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

level, n., adj., & v.
--n.
1 a horizontal line or plane.
2 a height or value reached, a position on a real or imaginary scale (eye level; sugar level in the blood; danger level).
3 a social, moral, or intellectual standard.
4 a plane of rank or authority (discussions at Cabinet level).
5 a an instrument giving a line parallel to the plane of the horizon for testing whether things are horizontal. b Surveying an instrument for giving a horizontal line of sight.
6 a more or less level surface.
7 a flat tract of land.
--adj.
1 having a flat and even surface; not bumpy.
2 horizontal; perpendicular to the plumb-line.
3 (often foll. by with) a on the same horizontal plane as something else. b having equality with something else. c (of a spoonful etc.) with the contents flat with the brim.
4 even, uniform, equable, or well-balanced in quality, style, temper, judgement, etc.
5 (of a race) having the leading competitors close together.
--v. (levelled, levelling; US leveled, leveling)
1 tr. make level, even, or uniform.
2 tr. (often foll. by to (or with) the ground, in the dust) raze or demolish.
3 tr. (also absol.) aim (a missile or gun).
4 tr. (also absol.; foll. by at, against) direct (an accusation, criticism, or satire).
5 tr. abolish (distinctions).
6 intr. (usu. foll. by with) sl. be frank or honest.
7 tr. place on the same level.
8 tr. (also absol.) Surveying ascertain differences in the height of (land).

Idiom

do one's level best colloq. do one's utmost; make all possible efforts. find one's level
1 reach the right social, intellectual, etc. place in relation to others.
2 (of a liquid) reach the same height in receptacles or regions which communicate with each other. level crossing Brit. a crossing of a railway and a road, or two railways, at the same level. level down bring down to a standard. levelling-screw a screw for adjusting parts of a machine etc. to an exact level. level off make or become level or smooth. level out make or become level, remove differences from. level pegging Brit. equality of scores or achievements. level up bring up to a standard. on the level colloq. adv. honestly, without deception.
--adj. honest, truthful. on a level with
1 in the same horizontal plane as.
2 equal with.

Derivative

levelly adv. levelness n.

Etymology

ME f. OF livel ult. f. L libella dimin. of libra scales, balance

THESAURUS

level

IC analysis, accommodate, accordant, address, adjust, aim, akin, alabaster, align, aligned, alike, alkali flat, alluvial plain, altitude, amount, appositive, arrowlike, assimilate to, at full length, at par, attribute, attributive, automatic, balance, balanced, band, basin, beat down, bed, bedding, belt, billiard table, blood, blow down, blow over, bottomland, bowl down, bowl over, bowling alley, bowling green, bracket, branch, break down, bring down, bulldog, bulldoze, burn down, bushveld, caliber, campo, cancel, cast, cast down, caste, category, champaign, champaign country, chop down, clan, class, clerestory, coastal plain, commensurate, compass, compensate, complement, consistent, consonant, constant, construction modifier, continuous, coordinate, correspondent, couche, counterbalance, counterpoise, countervail, course, cut, cut down, cutting, dab, damp, dash down, dead flat, dead level, dead straight, deck, deep structure, defensible, degree, delta, demolish, desert, deserved, destroy, devastate, direct, direct object, division, down, downs, downy, drag, drawn, dress, drop, dub, due, earth, elevation, entresol, equable, equal, equalize, equalized, equate, equilibrize, equitable, equivalent, esplanade, estate, even, even stephen, even up, evenhanded, evenly, extent, fair, fair and square, fell, fetch down, fifty-fifty, filler, first floor, fit, flat, flat country, flatland, flatly, flats, flatten, flattened, flatways, flatwise, floor, flush, focus, form-function unit, function, gallery, glabrate, glabrescent, glabrous, glass, good, grade, grass veld, grassland, grease, ground, ground floor, group, grouping, half-and-half, harmonize, harrow, head, heading, heath, height, hew down, homaloid, homaloidal, homogeneous, homogenize, honest, horizontal, horizontal axis, horizontal fault, horizontal line, horizontal parallax, horizontal plane, horizontal projection, horizontally, ice, identical, immediate constituent analysis, immutable, in a line, incline, indirect object, integrate, interval, invariable, ivory, just, justifiable, justified, kin, knock down, knock over, knotted, label, lande, lawful, lay, lay down, lay flat, lay level, lay low, lay out, lay waste, layer, leap, ledge, legal, leiotrichous, lengthways, lengthwise, level line, level off, level plane, level with, level-headed, levels, like, lineal, linear, llano, lowland, lowlands, lubricate, lunar mare, mahogany, make uniform, marble, mare, mark, mean sea level, measure, measured, measures, mechanical, meet, meet and right, merited, mesa, mesilla, methodic, mezzanine, mezzanine floor, modifier, monolithic, moor, moorland, mow, mow down, nip and tuck, normalize, notch, nuance, object, of a piece, oil, on a footing, on a level, on a par, on even ground, on the level, open, open country, order, ordered, orderly, overlayer, overstory, pampa, pampas, par, parallel, parterre, pas, peg, peneplain, period, persistent, phrase structure, pigeonhole, pitch, plain, plains, plane, planish, plaster, plateau, platform, playa, point, poise, position, prairie, precipitate, predicament, predicate, prone, proper, proportion, proportionate, prostrate, pull down, qualifier, quits, race, range, rank, ranks, rase, rating, ratio, raze, reach, rectilineal, rectilinear, regular, regularize, regulate, remove, rez-de-chaussee, right, right and proper, rightful, robotlike, roll, roll flat, rolled, round, rubric, ruler-straight, rung, salt flat, salt marsh, salt pan, same, satin, savanna, scale, scope, sea level, sea of grass, seam, sebkha, section, send headlong, sept, set, shade, shadow, shallow structure, shave, shelf, shoot straight, silk, similar, sincere, slide, slot, slot and filler, smash, smooth, smooth down, smooth out, smooth-shaven, smooth-textured, smoothed out, smoothen, smoothened, space, spread-eagle, square, squashed, squashed flat, stabilize, stable, stage, stair, stalemated, standard, standardize, standing, station, status, steadfast, steady, steamroll, steamroller, step, steppe, stereotype, stint, story, straight, straight-cut, straight-front, straight-shooting, straight-side, straightforward, strain, strata, stratum, streamlined, street floor, strike a balance, structure, suave, subdivision, subgroup, subject, suborder, substratum, superstratum, supinate, supine, surface structure, symmetrize, syntactic analysis, syntactic structure, syntactics, syntax, systematic, table, tableland, tabloid, tabular, tagmeme, take down, tear down, tennis court, terrace, thickness, throw, throw down, tied, tier, title, topple, topsoil, train, tread, tree veld, trip, trodden, trodden flat, true, tumble, tundra, turn, unalterable, unbending, unbent, unbowed, unbroken, unchangeable, unchanged, unchanging, uncurved, undeflected, underlayer, underlying structure, understory, understratum, undeviating, undifferentiated, undistorted, undiversified, uniform, uniformize, uninterrupted, unrough, unroughened, unruffled, unswerving, unturned, unvaried, unvarying, up on, upland, upright, vega, veld, velvet, vertical, very, warrantable, warranted, water level, weald, whack down, wide-open spaces, with, wold, word arrangement, word order, wreck, zero, zone

ROGET THESAURUS

level

Uniformity

VB be uniform, accord with, run through, become uniform, conform to, render uniform, homogenize, assimilate, level, smooth, dress.

Equality

N equality, parity, coextension, symmetry, balance, poise, evenness, monotony, level, equivalence, equipollence, equipoise, equilibrium, equiponderance, par, quits, a wash, not a pin to choose, distinction without a difference, six of one and half a dozen of the other, tweedle dee and tweedle dum, identity, similarity, equalization, equation, equilibration, co-ordination, adjustment, readjustment, drawn game, drawn battle, neck and neck race, tie, draw, standoff, dead heat, match, peer, compeer, equal, mate, fellow, brother, equivalent, equal, even, level, monotonous, coequal, symmetrical, coordinate, on a par with, on a level with, on a footing with, up to the mark, equiparant, equivalent, tantamount, indistinguishable, quits, homologous, synonymous, resolvable into, convertible, much at one, as broad as long, neither more nor less, much the same as, the same thing as, as good as, all one, all the same, equipollent, equiponderant, equiponderous, equibalanced, equalized, drawn, half and half, isochronal, isochronous isoperimetric, isoperimetrical, isobath, isobathic, equally, pari passu, ad eundum, caeteris paribus, in equilibrio, to all intents and purposes, it comes to the same thing, it amounts to the same thing, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gande, equality, parity, coextension, symmetry, balance, poise, evenness, monotony, level, equivalence, equipollence, equipoise, equilibrium, equiponderance, par, quits, a wash, not a pin to choose, distinction without a difference, six of one and half a dozen of the other, tweedle dee and tweedle dum, identity, similarity, equalization, equation, equilibration, co-ordination, adjustment, readjustment, drawn game, drawn battle, neck and neck race, tie, draw, standoff, dead heat, match, peer, compeer, equal, mate, fellow, brother, equivalent, equal, even, level, monotonous, coequal, symmetrical, coordinate, on a par with, on a level with, on a footing with, up to the mark, equiparant, equivalent, tantamount, indistinguishable, quits, homologous, synonymous, resolvable into, convertible, much at one, as broad as long, neither more nor less, much the same as, the same thing as, as good as, all one, all the same, equipollent, equiponderant, equiponderous, equibalanced, equalized, drawn, half and half, isochronal, isochronous isoperimetric, isoperimetrical, isobath, isobathic, equally, pari passu, ad eundum, caeteris paribus, in equilibrio, to all intents and purposes, it comes to the same thing, it amounts to the same thing, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gande.

Horizontality

N horizontality, flatness, level, plane, stratum, dead level, dead flat, level plane, recumbency, lying down, reclination, decumbence, decumbency, discumbency, proneness, accubation, supination, resupination, prostration, azimuth, plain, floor, platform, bowling green, cricket ground, croquet ground, croquet lawn, billiard table, terrace, estrade, esplanade, parterre, table land, plateau, ledge, butte, mesa (plain), level, spirit level, horizontal, level, even, plane, flat, flat as a billiard table, flat as a bowling green, alluvial, calm, calm as a mill pond, smooth, smooth as glass, recumbent, decumbent, procumbent, accumbent, lying, prone, supine, couchant, jacent, prostrate, recubant, horizontally, on one's back, on all fours, on its beam ends, horizontality, flatness, level, plane, stratum, dead level, dead flat, level plane, recumbency, lying down, reclination, decumbence, decumbency, discumbency, proneness, accubation, supination, resupination, prostration, azimuth, plain, floor, platform, bowling green, cricket ground, croquet ground, croquet lawn, billiard table, terrace, estrade, esplanade, parterre, table land, plateau, ledge, butte, mesa (plain), level, spirit level, horizontal, level, even, plane, flat, flat as a billiard table, flat as a bowling green, alluvial, calm, calm as a mill pond, smooth, smooth as glass, recumbent, decumbent, procumbent, accumbent, lying, prone, supine, couchant, jacent, prostrate, recubant, horizontally, on one's back, on all fours, on its beam ends, horizontality, flatness, level, plane, stratum, dead level, dead flat, level plane, recumbency, lying down, reclination, decumbence, decumbency, discumbency, proneness, accubation, supination, resupination, prostration, azimuth, plain, floor, platform, bowling green, cricket ground, croquet ground, croquet lawn, billiard table, terrace, estrade, esplanade, parterre, table land, plateau, ledge, butte, mesa (plain), level, spirit level, horizontal, level, even, plane, flat, flat as a billiard table, flat as a bowling green, alluvial, calm, calm as a mill pond, smooth, smooth as glass, recumbent, decumbent, procumbent, accumbent, lying, prone, supine, couchant, jacent, prostrate, recubant, horizontally, on one's back, on all fours, on its beam ends.

VB be horizontal, lie, recline, couch, lie down, lie flat, lie prostrate, sprawl, loll, sit down, render horizontal, lay down, lay out, level, flatten, prostrate, knock down, floor, fell.

Flatness

N flatness, smoothness, plane, level, plate, platter, table, tablet, slab, flat, plane, even, flush, scutiform, discoid, level, flat as a pancake, flat as a fluke, flat as a flounder, flat as a board, flat as my hand, flatness, smoothness, plane, level, plate, platter, table, tablet, slab, flat, plane, even, flush, scutiform, discoid, level, flat as a pancake, flat as a fluke, flat as a flounder, flat as a board, flat as my hand.

VB render flat, flatten, level.

Smoothness

VB smooth, smoothen, plane, file, mow, shave, level, roll, macadamize, polish, burnish, calender, glaze, iron, hot-press, mangle, lubricate.

N smoothness, polish, gloss, lubricity, lubrication, down, velvet, velure, silk, satin, velveteen, velour, velours, velumen, glass, ice, slide, bowling green, asphalt, wood pavement, flagstone, flags, roller, steam roller, lawn roller, rolling pin, rolling mill, sand paper, emery paper, emery cloth, sander, flat iron, sad iron, burnisher, turpentine and beeswax, polish, shoe polish, lapidary, lapidary, lapidarian, smooth, polished, leiodermatous, slick, velutinous, even, level, plane, sleek, glossy, silken, silky, lanate, downy, velvety, glabrous, slippery, glassy, lubricous, oily, soft, unwrinkled, smooth as glass, smooth as ice, smooth as monumental alabaster, smooth as velvet, smooth as oil, slippery as an eel, woolly, smooth as silk, slippery as coonshit on a pump handle, slippery as a greased pig.

Depression

VB depress, lower, let down, take down, let down a peg, take down a peg, cast, let drop, let fall, sink, debase, bring low, abase, reduce, detrude, pitch, precipitate, overthrow, overturn, overset, upset, subvert, prostate, level, fell, cast down, take down, throw down, fling down, dash down, pull down, cut down, knock down, hew down, raze, raze to the ground, rase to the ground, trample in the dust, pull about one's ears, sit, sit down, couch, squat, crouch, stoop, bend, bow, courtesy, curtsy, bob, duck, dip, kneel, bend the knee, bow the knee, bend the head, bow the head, cower, recline.