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.]
With such accommodation and besort
As levels with her breeding.
Shak.
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.
The foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife.
Shak. 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.
Shak.
Lev"el , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leveled
(-&ebreve;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.
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 (l&ebreve;v"&ebreve;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.
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.
Shak. Everything lies level to our wish.
Shak. 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 (l&ebreve;v"&ebreve;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.
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.
Shak. 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.
Hear it pronounced