Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *leyH-der.
Proto-Indo-European *-dʰromder.
Proto-Italic *līðrā?
Latin lībra
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Indo-European *-elós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -la
Latin libella
Old French livelbor.
Middle English level
English level
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.
Meanings
The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.
This table isn't quite level; see how this marble rolls off it?
the smooth and level pavement 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:
At the same height as some reference; constructed as level with.
We tried to hang the pictures so that the bottom of the frames were level with the dark line in the wallpaper.
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. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 14, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
Unvaried in frequency.
His pulse has been level for 12 hours.
Unvaried in volume.
His voice has been unchanged. It has been level for 12 hours.
Calm.
He kept a level gaze.
He kept a level head under stress.
In the same position or rank.
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. 2011 October 22, Sam Sheringham, “Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:
Young boys and girls
Are level now with men. 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]:
Straightforward; direct; clear.
a very plain and level account 1873, Matthew Arnold, Literature and Dogma:
Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial.
a level consideration 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]:
a level head; a level understanding
Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection; monotonic.
Intonation or tone is either level, rising, or falling, marked respectively 1891, Henry Sweet, A History of English Sounds from the Earliest Period:
Perpendicular to a gravitational force.
The earth's oceans remain level in relation to the pull of gravity.
fi harkitseva (being sensible) · el ισεπίπεδος (at the same height as some reference) · es nivel (being sensible) · ro plan (same height at all places) · cmn 平 (at the same height as some reference) · rm gualiv (same height at all places) · es nivelado (at the same height as some reference) · mi tairite (same height at all places) · grc ὁμαλός (being unvaried) · nan-hbl 平 (at the same height as some reference) · it piano (same height at all places) · grc πεδινός (same height at all places) · ca anivellat (at the same height as some reference) · ta சரிமட்டமான (same height at all places) · pt nivelado (same height at all places) · ota سوی (same height at all places) · fi linjassa (at the same height as some reference) · nb vatret (same height at all places) · rm planiv (same height at all places) · nb jevnhøy (at the same height as some reference) · cs vodorovný (at the same height as some reference) · pt plano (same height at all places) · pt constante (being unvaried) · el επίπεδος (being unvaried) · mi paparite (same height at all places) · fi vakaa (being unvaried) · cs vodorovný (same height at all places) · da jævn (being unvaried) · sv plan (same height at all places) · nl geëqualiseerd (at the same height as some reference) · sh раван (same height at all places) · grc ὁμαλός (same height at all places) · eo horizontala (same height at all places) · ro nivelat (same height at all places) · da ensformig (being unvaried) · da jævn (same height at all places) · ca anivellat (same height at all places) · kmr ast (at the same height as some reference) · ja 水平 (same height at all places) · fi vaaterissa (same height at all places) · es al ras (same height at all places) · it orizzontale (same height at all places) · rm guliv (same height at all places) · fi suora (same height at all places) · da sindig (being sensible) · cmn 平 (same height at all places) · nn i vater (same height at all places) · rm uliv (same height at all places) · ga cothrom (at the same height as some reference) · nan-hbl 平 (being unvaried) · it uniforme (being unvaried) · es niveles (being unvaried) · el νηφάλιος (being sensible) · fi samassa linjassa (at the same height as some reference) · yue 平坦 (same height at all places) · fur plac (same height at all places) · fi järkevä (being sensible) · ru ро́вный (same height at all places) · el επίπεδο (same height at all places) · fi kylmä (being sensible) · gd còmhnard (same height at all places) · sh ravan (same height at all places) · te సమానము (at the same height as some reference) · es nivel (being unvaried) · fi tasainen (same height at all places) · de eben (same height at all places) · fur plan (same height at all places) · bg уравновесен (being sensible) · pt nivelado (at the same height as some reference) · fi vaakasuora (same height at all places) · fr constant (being unvaried) · fi tasainen (being unvaried) · bo སྙོམས་པ (same height at all places) · cmn 平坦 (same height at all places) · it costante (being unvaried) · te చదునైన (same height at all places) · bg еднакъв (being unvaried) · bo ཁོད་སྙོམས་པ (same height at all places) · bho स्तर (same height at all places) · cmn 平 (being unvaried) · rm plàn (same height at all places) · de konstant (being unvaried) · pl poziomy (same height at all places) · da i vater med (at the same height as some reference) · ota طوغری (same height at all places) · mi tūpā (same height at all places) · cmn 平衡 (at the same height as some reference) · nan-hbl 平衡 (at the same height as some reference) · bg равен (same height at all places) · ga réidh (same height at all places) · nn vatra (same height at all places) · ro șes (same height at all places) · sv jämn (being unvaried) · da plan (same height at all places) · fi tasalla (at the same height as some reference) · km រាប (same height at all places) · nan-hbl 平 (same height at all places) · rm anguliv (same height at all places) · fi vaakatasossa (same height at all places) · fi samalla tasolla (at the same height as some reference) · eu lau (same height at all places) · ro plat (same height at all places) · sv jämn (same height at all places) · rm guleiv (same height at all places) · fr à ras (at the same height as some reference) · es niveles (being sensible) · mn тэгш (same height at all places) · it calmo (being sensible) · mi papatairite (same height at all places) · sv lugn (being sensible) · es nivelado (same height at all places) · sv jämnhög (same height at all places) · da nøgtern (being sensible) · el ισοϋψής (at the same height as some reference) · gd còmhnard (at the same height as some reference) · nl vlak (same height at all places) · km ស្មើ (same height at all places) · chr ᎤᏩᎾᏕᏍᎩ (same height at all places) · bo སྙོམས་པ (being unvaried) · ca uniforme (being unvaried) · got 𐌹𐌱𐌽𐍃 (same height at all places) · ga cothrom (being unvaried) · vec guałivo (same height at all places) · la plānus (same height at all places) · nb i vater (same height at all places) · sv vågrät (same height at all places) · ga cothrom (same height at all places) · gl nivelado (same height at all places) · fr plat (same height at all places) · sv plan (being unvaried) · bg равномерен (being unvaried) · it livellato (at the same height as some reference) · hi स्तर (same height at all places) · ota دوز (same height at all places) · nl constant (being unvaried) · nn jamhøg (at the same height as some reference) · vec gałivo (same height at all places) · te భేధము లేక (being unvaried) · te సున్నితముగా (being sensible) · it a posto (being sensible) · fr au même niveau (at the same height as some reference) · da vandret (same height at all places) · cs vyrovnaný (being unvaried) · lv līdzens (same height at all places) · yue 平 (same height at all places) · sv jämnhög (at the same height as some reference) · lt lygus (same height at all places) · hu lapos (same height at all places) · ddg te'u (same height at all places) · eo ebena (same height at all places) · tet tetuk (same height at all places) · it equilibrato (being sensible)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *leyH-der.
Proto-Indo-European *-dʰromder.
Proto-Italic *līðrā?
Latin lībra
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Indo-European *-elós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -la
Latin libella
Old French livelbor.
Middle English level
English level
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.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) 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.
(countable, uncountable) 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.
(countable, uncountable) Degree or amount.
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. 2013 May 17, George Monbiot, “Money just makes the rich suffer”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 23, page 19:
We've reached a new level of success.
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. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XVII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
The sound level is much too high; this hurts my ears.
(countable, uncountable) Achievement or qualification.
She achieved a high level of distinction.
(countable, uncountable) Distance from the root node of a tree structure.
(countable, uncountable) One of several discrete segments of a game, generally increasing in difficulty and representing different locations in the game world.
It took me weeks to get to level seven. Watch out for the next level; the bad guys there are really overpowered.
Many of the levels change over time, from day to night or from one location to another, and some undergo a total transformation. 2007 December 14, Chris Slate, “Get Ready to Smash”, in Nintendo Power, volume 222, page 49:
(countable, qualifier:roleplaying games, uncountable) A numeric value given to a character (or other element of a game) that represents its relative power, challenge or eligibility to do things, used as a game mechanic to govern progression through a game.
My half-orc barbarian reached fifth level before he was squashed by a troll.
(countable, uncountable) A floor of a multi-storey building.
Take the elevator and get off at the promenade level.
(UK, countable, uncountable) An area of almost perfectly flat land.
The troops grow mutinous—the revenue fails—
There’s something rotten in us—for the level
Of the State slopes, its very bases topple,
The boldest turn their backs upon themselves! 1820, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Oedipus Tyrannus; Or, Swellfoot The Tyrant: A Tragedy in Two Acts:
(Singapore, countable, uncountable) A school grade or year.
(countable, uncountable) One of the specific values which may be taken by a categorical variable.
The most common level of the colour variable is red. The other levels are blue and green.
(Internet, countable, uncountable) age (especially used by cosplayers and TikTok users
it livello (degree or amount) · ja 水準 (degree or amount) · cmn 等級 /等级 (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · nb nivå (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · es nivel (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · ja 程度 (degree or amount) · sh степен (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · hu szint (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · et tasand (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · hy հարթաչափ (tool) · lt lygmuo (degree or amount) · hu szintező (tool) · la gradus (degree or amount) · et vaaderpass (tool) · sh razina (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · fr niveau (degree or amount) · ur سَطْح (degree or amount) · cmn 關 /关 (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · et rihtlatt (tool) · ar مُسْتَوًى (degree or amount) · sh razina (degree or amount) · ga leibhéal (tool) · mk ниво́ (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · be узро́вень (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · ga leibhéal (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · kk деңгей (degree or amount) · bg ниво́ (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · la libella (tool) · ko 레벨 (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · it livella (tool) · sl nivo (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · gl nivel (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · et tase (degree or amount) · sh nivo (degree or amount) · ja 級 (degree or amount) · hu szint (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · gd ìre (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · yi ניוואָ (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · sh nivo (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · csb wasërwaga (tool) · hy աստիճան (degree or amount) · lt nivelyras (tool) · cs úroveň (degree or amount) · hi स्तर (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · ga céim (area of almost perfectly flat land) · is borð (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · da højde (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · la libella (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · he רָמָה (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · fi kenttä (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · pt nível (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · mi rēwera (tool) · cmn 級 /级 (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · be узро́вень (degree or amount) · nl hoogte (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · uk рі́вень (degree or amount) · et rihter (tool) · sl raven (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · ko 수준 (degree or amount) · is hallamál (tool) · ko 급 (degree or amount) · ga airde (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · nl niveau (degree or amount) · ro nivel (degree or amount) · tr seviye (degree or amount) · fi tasanne (area of almost perfectly flat land) · ru ватерпа́с (tool) · cmn 級 /级 (degree or amount) · es nivel (tool) · sh stepen (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · mi kōeke (degree or amount) · ga leibhéal (degree or amount) · de Niveau (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · hu pálya (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · th ด่าน (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · pl poziom (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · cmn 水平尺 (tool) · et maailm (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · fr niveau (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · ga leibhéal (area of almost perfectly flat land) · pt nível (degree or amount) · tr level (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · sl stopnja (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · es nivel (degree or amount) · vi mức (degree or amount) · sv nivå (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · vi mực (degree or amount) · lv pakāpe (degree or amount) · nb nivå (degree or amount) · fi vatupassi (tool) · fi leveli (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · et tasandik (area of almost perfectly flat land) · lt lygis (degree or amount) · sl nivo (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · de Wasserwaage (tool) · et vesilood (tool) · br live (degree or amount) · et lood (tool) · da vaterpas (tool) · es nivel (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · hu vízmérték (tool) · et level (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · et aste (degree or amount) · lv līmenis (degree or amount) · th ขั้น (degree or amount) · fr niveau (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · pl poziom (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · pl poziom (degree or amount) · sq nivel (degree or amount) · sh ниво (degree or amount) · fa-ira سَطْح (degree or amount) · sv höjd (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · km កម្រិត (degree or amount) · fi vesivaaka (tool) · ru у́ровень (degree or amount) · pt nível (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · eu maila (degree or amount) · ast nivel (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · cmn 水平 (degree or amount) · fi tasanko (area of almost perfectly flat land) · sh stepen (degree or amount) · is stig (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · ka დონე (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · da nivelleringsinstrument (tool) · de Grad (degree or amount) · cmn 級別 /级别 (degree or amount) · pa پَدَّھر (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · nb vater (tool) · yue 級 /级 (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · th ชั้น (degree or amount) · cs úroveň (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · uz sath (degree or amount) · et pügal (degree or amount) · hu szint (degree or amount) · eo nivelo (degree or amount) · fr niveau (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · uk рі́вень (tool) · hy մակարդակ (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · et tasand (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · pt nível (tool) · haw ʻiliwai (tool) · cmn 階 /阶 (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · pt nível (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · az səviyyə (degree or amount) · de Stufe (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · el στάθμη (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · it livello (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · br live (tool) · ky деңгээл (degree or amount) · hy մակարդակ (degree or amount) · tr bölüm (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · pa ਪੱਧਰ (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · fi taso (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · cs level (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · ba кимәл (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · de Level (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · cmn 層次 /层次 (degree or amount) · et tasapind (area of almost perfectly flat land) · fi taso (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · kw nivel (degree or amount) · sl nivo (degree or amount) · cs libela (tool) · ast nivel (tool) · sv nivå (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · sv bana (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · hi सतह (degree or amount) · hi समस्तर (tool) · pl poziomica (tool) · hy աշխարհ (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · cs vodováha (tool) · tsg papatag (tool) · my အဆင့် (degree or amount) · ba кимәл (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · tr düzey (degree or amount) · lt pakopa (degree or amount) · sv nivå (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · fi leveli (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · ja 標準 (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · sh степен (degree or amount) · tr su terazisi (tool) · cmn 關卡 /关卡 (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · nb nivå (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · km នីវ៉ុ (degree or amount) · uz saviya (degree or amount) · fi taso (degree or amount) · pa ਪੱਧਰ (area of almost perfectly flat land) · nl niveau (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · bg либе́ла (tool) · yi ניוואָ (degree or amount) · mr पातळी (degree or amount) · ru у́ровень (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · pt fase (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · th ระดับ (degree or amount) · ro nivel (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · hi स्तर (degree or amount) · el επίπεδο (degree or amount) · sk úroveň (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · ro nivel (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · fy nivo (degree or amount) · ru у́ровень (tool) · da niveau (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · ast nivel (degree or amount) · sh либела (tool) · el αλφάδι (tool) · yi מדרגה (degree or amount) · ca llivell (tool) · nl waterpas (tool) · da niveau (degree or amount) · ro nivele (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · an livel (degree or amount) · da niveau (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · fr niveau (tool) · cs úroveň (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · fr profondeur (computer science: distance from the root node of a tree structure) · is stig (degree or amount) · he פֶּלֶס (tool) · de Niveau (degree or amount) · ka დონე (degree or amount) · ru у́ровень (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · lv līmenis (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · uk ватерпа́с (tool) · sv vattenpass (tool) · sv nivå (degree or amount) · ba кимәл (degree or amount) · pl stopień (degree or amount) · mr स्तर (degree or amount) · nl niveau (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · ja レベル (degree or amount) · it livello (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · sl stopnja (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · sv grad (degree or amount) · sh ниво (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · eo nivelo (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · ko 수평 (degree or amount) · ug سەۋىيە (degree or amount) · mk ниво́ (degree or amount) · et tasand (area of almost perfectly flat land) · gd ìre (degree or amount) · th ระดับ (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · sh libela (tool) · ca nivell (degree or amount) · ru у́ровень (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · hu olajszint (tool) · ar مُسْتَوًى (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · uk рі́вень (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · bg нивели́р (tool) · cmn 水準 /水准 (degree or amount) · sk úroveň (degree or amount) · hu szint (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · ko 수평 (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · it livello (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · mr स्तर (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · tr level (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · bg ниво́ (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · ro nivel (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · et kogemus (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · sh ниво (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · fi tasa (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · sv steg (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · yue 呢 (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · ro grade (degree or amount) · ro grad (degree or amount) · yi מדרגה (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · mn түвшин (degree or amount) · he שָׁלָב (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · ja 程 (degree or amount) · bg ниво́ (degree or amount) · hu mérték (degree or amount) · da niveau (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · hi तल (degree or amount) · ar مَرْحَلَة (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · lt lygis (distance relative to a given reference elevation) · lo ລະດັບ (degree or amount) · ru эта́п (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · pa پَدَّھر (area of almost perfectly flat land) · et level (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · ru сте́пень (degree or amount) · et tase (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · fi taso (computer science: distance from the root node of a tree structure) · ro level (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · tg сатҳ (degree or amount) · fi taso (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · sh nivo (gaming: discrete segment of a game) · cs úroveň (gaming: numeric value for something or someone's experience and power) · ko 레벨 (degree or amount) · ca nivell (tool) · it livello (computer science: distance from the root node of a tree structure) · eo nivelilo (tool)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *leyH-der.
Proto-Indo-European *-dʰromder.
Proto-Italic *līðrā?
Latin lībra
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Indo-European *-elós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -la
Latin libella
Old French livelbor.
Middle English level
English level
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.
Meanings
(transitive) To adjust so as to make as flat or perpendicular to the ground as possible.
This pitfall, beginning in February and finishing in May, resulted in a drop of about 3 ft. in the platform level; during this period it was necessary to level the track three times weekly, and impose a service slack of 15 m.p.h. The subsidence appears now to have finished, and normal speed is once again permitted. 1939 June, “Pertinent Paragraphs: Pitfalls”, in Railway Magazine, page 456:
The work involved a complete rewiring of the system, while the addition of four higher-capacity Mechan jacks and the increased length of the new train meant the entire floor (the length of four train carriages) had to be dug up, levelled and strengthened to meet tolerance requirements. 2020 August 12, “Network News: Four new jacks at Clacton depot”, in Rail, page 18:
You can level the table by turning the pads that screw into the feet.
(transitive) To destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze.
The hurricane leveled the forest.
He levels mountains and he raises plains. 1700, [John] Dryden, “Sigismonda and Guiscardo, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
(intransitive, qualifier:roleplaying games) To progress to the next level.
I levelled after defeating the dragon.
(transitive) To aim or direct (a weapon, a stare, an accusation, etc).
Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, levelled a quarrel out of a crossbow. 1592, John Stow, The Annales of England:
He levelled an accusation of fraud at the directors. The hunter levels the gun before taking a shot.
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. 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
(transitive) To direct or impose (a penalty, fine, etc) at or upon (someone) [with on or against or at].
There is no purpose in levelling fines because they would be merely paid from the £1.8 billion which the BBC collects. 1995, The Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) of the [Great British] House of Lords:
How can the Minister reconcile the first statement with the clause, when he is in fact levelling punishment at the woman and not at the errant father … ? 1978, Parliamentary Debates of the New Zealand House of Representatives, page 4955
If the right of killing salmon belong exclusively to the King, and consequently to his donatories, why has not the Legislature secured the right by levelling penalties against such as should encroach upon it … ? 1809, William Ross (Jr.), Abridgement of the laws of Scotland relating to hunting [etc], page 60
Ultimately, Ms. Kroes [European Union Antitrust Commissioner] could level a fine and order Intel to change its business practices. 2007, Mary Jacoby, EU investigators endorse charges against Intel, Wall Street Journal Europe, 17 January, page 32, column 5
(intransitive) To make the score of a game equal.
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. 2012 April 9, Mandeep Sanghera, “Tottenham 1-2 Norwich”, in BBC Sport:
(figuratively, transitive) 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
(transitive) To adjust or adapt to a certain level.
For all his mind on honour fixed is, / To which he levels all his purposes. 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC:
to level remarks to the capacity of children
(intransitive) To speak honestly and openly [with with ‘someone’] (see: level with).
Sean, I'll level with you. This could get ugly. Do you have a gun? 2010, James William Jones, Triple Crossed:
To replace (an irregular form) with a more common form; to remove irregularities or complexities, such as within a paradigm; to regularize.
pt arrasar (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · et võrtsustama (figurative: to bring to a common level or plane) · et äestama (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · it demolire (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · et maatasa tegema (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · te చదునుచేయు (to adjust so as to make level) · cs zamířit (to aim or direct) · it spianare (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · cs postoupit (to progress to the next level) · it rivolgere (to aim or direct) · ru получи́ть у́ровень (to progress to the next level) · sv kvittera (sports: to make the score of a game equal) · fi tasoittaa (sports: to make the score of a game equal) · la assolō (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · ta சரிமட்டமாக்க (to adjust so as to make level) · et viitama (to aim or direct) · de ebnen (to adjust so as to make level) · et viigistama (sports: to make the score of a game equal) · es nivelar (to adjust so as to make level) · el κατεδαφίζω (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · bo སྙོམ (to adjust so as to make level) · pt nivelar (to adjust so as to make level) · it radere al suolo (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · sv rasera (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · fi kohdistaa (to aim or direct) · ca anivellar (to adjust so as to make level) · et sihitama (to aim or direct) · mi tāhoro (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · fi hävittää maan tasalle (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · ota دوزلهمك (to adjust so as to make level) · bo སྙོམ (to adjust or adapt to a certain level) · et edenema järgmisse tasandisse (to progress to the next level) · hu szintez (to adjust so as to make level) · et ühtlustama (figurative: to bring to a common level or plane) · no gå videre til neste nivå (to progress to the next level) · sv stiga (to progress to the next level) · dsb planěrowaś (to adjust so as to make level) · it spianare (to aim or direct) · gl achandar (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · bo སྙོམ་སྒྲིག་བྱེད (to adjust so as to make level) · fi tähdätä (to aim or direct) · cmn 鏟平 /铲平 (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · lv nolīdzināt līdz ar zemi (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · bg изравнявам (to adjust so as to make level) · da nivellere (to adjust so as to make level) · mi whakatūpā (to adjust so as to make level) · nl egaliseren (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · is jafna við jörðu (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · gl achandar (to adjust so as to make level) · fi tasoittaa (figurative: to bring to a common level or plane) · ta தரைமட்டமாக்க (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · et loodima (to adjust so as to make level) · et arenema kõrgemale tasemele (to progress to the next level) · fi tasata (to adjust or adapt to a certain level) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐌱𐌽𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to adjust so as to make level) · grc ἐδαφίζω (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · bo ཁོད་སྙོམས་བྱེད (to adjust so as to make level) · gl achaiar (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · pt avançar (to progress to the next level) · it puntare (to aim or direct) · et laastama (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · et tasandama (to adjust so as to make level) · it livellare (to adjust so as to make level) · ro nivela (to adjust so as to make level) · bg нивелирам (to adjust or adapt to a certain level) · et rihtima (to aim or direct) · io rezigar (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · da planere (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · fi tasapainottaa (to adjust so as to make level) · la complānō (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · et osundama (to aim or direct) · et sihtima (to aim or direct) · et rihtima (to adjust so as to make level) · sv utjämna (to adjust so as to make level) · pt direccionar (to aim or direct) · da jævne (to adjust so as to make level) · cs srovnat (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · et rihitama (figurative: to bring to a common level or plane) · is jafna (to adjust so as to make level) · da udligne (sports: to make the score of a game equal) · sv utjämna (sports: to make the score of a game equal) · cmn 夷為平地 /夷为平地 (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · pt passar (to progress to the next level) · it scagliare (to aim or direct) · cs urovnat (to adjust so as to make level) · cmn 升級 /升级 (to progress to the next level) · de leveln (to progress to the next level) · el ισοπεδώνω (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · ru выра́внивать (to adjust so as to make level) · gl achanzar (to adjust so as to make level) · bo སྙོམ་སྒྲིག་ཁ་གསབ་བྱེད (to adjust so as to make level) · de ebnen (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · fi hävittää (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · de planieren (to adjust so as to make level) · fi päästä seuraavalle tasolle (to progress to the next level) · et osutama (to aim or direct) · gl achaiar (to adjust so as to make level) · et joonde ajama (to adjust so as to make level) · fr niveler (to adjust so as to make level) · fi edetä seuraavalle tasolle (to progress to the next level) · ru сровня́ть с землёй (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · et suunama (to aim or direct) · fi tasata (to adjust so as to make level) · bg изравнявам (sports: to make the score of a game equal) · et sihkama (to aim or direct) · ru равня́ть (to adjust so as to make level) · sv jämna (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · sv levla (to progress to the next level) · fi sovittaa jonkun tason mukaiseksi (to adjust or adapt to a certain level) · cmn 平整 (to adjust so as to make level) · ru вы́ровнять (to adjust so as to make level) · ota یاصمق (to adjust so as to make level) · mk срамни (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · et rüüstama (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze) · it lanciare (to aim or direct) · sv nivellera (to destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze)