Level

level
    adj 1: having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is
           higher or lower than another; "a flat desk"; "acres of
           level farmland"; "a plane surface"; "skirts sewn with
           fine flat seams" [syn: {flat}, {level}, {plane}]
    2: not showing abrupt variations; "spoke in a level voice"; "she
       gave him a level look"- Louis Auchincloss [syn: {level},
       {unwavering}]
    3: being on a precise horizontal plane; "a billiard table must
       be level"
    4: oriented at right angles to the plumb; "the picture is level"
    5: of the score in a contest; "the score is tied" [syn:
       {tied(p)}, {even}, {level(p)}]
    n 1: a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality; "a
         moderate grade of intelligence"; "a high level of care is
         required"; "it is all a matter of degree" [syn: {degree},
         {grade}, {level}]
    2: a relative position or degree of value in a graded group;
       "lumber of the highest grade" [syn: {grade}, {level}, {tier}]
    3: a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or
       especially in a process; "a remarkable degree of frankness";
       "at what stage are the social sciences?" [syn: {degree},
       {level}, {stage}, {point}]
    4: height above ground; "the water reached ankle level"; "the
       pictures were at the same level"
    5: indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is
       centered in a tube of liquid [syn: {level}, {spirit level}]
    6: a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line; "park the car
       on the level" [syn: {horizontal surface}, {level}]
    7: an abstract place usually conceived as having depth; "a good
       actor communicates on several levels"; "a simile has at least
       two layers of meaning"; "the mind functions on many strata
       simultaneously" [syn: {level}, {layer}, {stratum}]
    8: a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single
       position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office
       on?" [syn: {floor}, {level}, {storey}, {story}]
    v 1: aim at; "level criticism or charges at somebody"
    2: tear down so as to make flat with the ground; "The building
       was levelled" [syn: {level}, {raze}, {rase}, {dismantle},
       {tear down}, {take down}, {pull down}] [ant: {erect}, {put
       up}, {raise}, {rear}, {set up}]
    3: make level or straight; "level the ground" [syn: {flush},
       {level}, {even out}, {even}]
    4: direct into a position for use; "point a gun"; "He charged
       his weapon at me" [syn: {charge}, {level}, {point}]
    5: talk frankly with; lay it on the line; "I have to level with
       you"
    6: become level or even; "The ground levelled off" [syn:
       {level}, {level off}]
    

Level \Lev"el\ (l[e^]v"[e^]l), 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}.]
   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.
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   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.
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   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.
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            After draining of the level in Northamptonshire.
                                                  --Sir M. Hale.
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            Shot from the deadly level of a gun.  --Shak.
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   4. Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard,
      degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one
      of several planes of different elevation.
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            Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level.
                                                  --Addison.
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            Somebody there of his own level.      --Swift.
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            Be the fair level of thy actions laid
            As temperance wills and prudence may persuade.
                                                  --Prior.
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   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.
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            When merit shall find its level.      --F. W.
                                                  Robertson.
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   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.
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   7. A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine.
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   {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.
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Level \Lev"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Leveled} (-[e^]ld) 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.
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   2. To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down;
      to reduce to a flat surface; to lower.
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            And their proud structures level with the ground.
                                                  --Sandys.
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            He levels mountains and he raises plains. --Dryden.
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   3. To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to
      point in taking aim; to aim; to direct.
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            Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall,
            leveled a quarrel out of a crossbow.  --Stow.
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   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.
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   5. To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level
      remarks to the capacity of children.
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            For all his mind on honor fixed is,
            To which he levels all his purposes.  --Spenser.
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Level \Lev"el\ (l[e^]v"[e^]l), a.
   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.
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            Ample spaces o'er the smooth
            And level pavement.                   --Milton.
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   2. Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon;
      horizontal; as, the telescope is now level.
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   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.
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            Young boys and girls
            Are level now with men; the odds is gone. --Shak.
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            Everything lies level to our wish.    --Shak.
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   4. Straightforward; direct; clear; open.
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            A very plain and level account.       --M. Arnold.
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   5. Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level
      head; a level understanding. [Colloq.] " A level
      consideration." --Shak.
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   6. (Phonetics) Of even tone; without rising or falling
      inflection. --H. Sweet.
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   {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.
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Level \Lev"el\, v. 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.]
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            With such accommodation and besort
            As levels with her breeding.          --Shak.
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   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.
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            The foeman may with as great aim level at the edge
            of a penknife.                        --Shak.
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            The glory of God and the good of his church . . .
            ought to be the mark whereat we also level.
                                                  --Hooker.
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            She leveled at our purposes.          --Shak.
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506 Moby Thesaurus words for "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