LEVEL (levelled, levelling)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does level mean? 

• LEVEL (noun)
  The noun LEVEL has 8 senses:

1. a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

2. a relative position or degree of value in a graded group

3. a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process

4. height above ground

5. indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is centered in a tube of liquid

6. a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line

7. an abstract place usually conceived as having depth

8. a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale

  Familiarity information: LEVEL used as a noun is common.

• LEVEL (adjective)
  The adjective LEVEL has 5 senses:

1. having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

2. not showing abrupt variations

3. being on a precise horizontal plane

4. oriented at right angles to the plumb

5. of the score in a contest

  Familiarity information: LEVEL used as an adjective is common.

• LEVEL (verb)
  The verb LEVEL has 6 senses:

1. aim at

2. tear down so as to make flat with the ground

3. make level or straight

4. direct into a position for use

5. talk frankly with; lay it on the line

6. become level or even

  Familiarity information: LEVEL used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LEVEL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

degree; grade; level

Context example:

it is all a matter of degree

Hypernyms ("level" is a kind of...):

property (a basic or essential attribute shared by all members of a class)

Attribute:

high (greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount)

low (less than normal in degree or intensity or amount)

mild (moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme)

intense (possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "level"):

SPF; sun protection factor (the degree to which a sunscreen protects the skin from the direct rays of the sun)

immoderateness; immoderation (the quality of being excessive and lacking in moderation)

moderateness; moderation (quality of being moderate and avoiding extremes)

amplitude level (the level on a scale of amplitude)

extreme (the furthest or highest degree of something)

lowness (a low or small degree of any quality (amount or force or temperature etc.))

high (a lofty level or position or degree)

highness (a high degree (of amount or force etc.))

depth (degree of psychological or intellectual profundity)

grind (the grade of particle fineness to which a substance is ground)

intensity; intensiveness (high level or degree; the property of being intense)

caliber; calibre; quality (a degree or grade of excellence or worth)

low (a low level or position or degree)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A relative position or degree of value in a graded group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

grade; level; tier

Context example:

lumber of the highest grade

Hypernyms ("level" is a kind of...):

rank (relative status)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "level"):

biosafety level (the level of safety from exposure to infectious agents; depends on work practices and safety equipment and facilities)

A level (the advanced level of a subject taken in school (usually two years after O level))

GCSE; General Certificate of Secondary Education; O level (the basic level of a subject taken in school)

college level (the level of education that college students are assumed to have attained)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

degree; level; point; stage

Context example:

at what stage are the social sciences?

Hypernyms ("level" is a kind of...):

state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "level"):

plane (a level of existence or development)

climax (the most severe stage of a disease)

quickening (the stage of pregnancy at which the mother first feels the movements of the fetus)

ultimacy; ultimateness (the state or degree of being ultimate; the final or most extreme in degree or size or time or distance)

state of the art (the highest degree of development of an art or technique at a particular time)

living standards; standard of life; standard of living (a level of material comfort in terms of goods and services available to someone or some group)

end point; resultant (the final point in a process)

extent (the point or degree to which something extends)

acme; elevation; height; meridian; peak; pinnacle; summit; superlative; tiptop; top (the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development)

ladder (ascending stages by which somebody or something can progress)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Height above ground

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the pictures were at the same level

Hypernyms ("level" is a kind of...):

altitude; height (elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is centered in a tube of liquid

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

level; spirit level

Hypernyms ("level" is a kind of...):

indicator (a device for showing the operating condition of some system)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "level"):

mason's level (a level longer than a carpenter's level)

Holonyms ("level" is a part of...):

carpenter's level (a straight bar of light metal with a spirit level in it)

surveyor's level (surveying instrument consisting basically of a small telescope with an attached spirit level rotating around a vertical axis; for measuring relative heights of land)

Derivation:

level (become level or even)

level (make level or straight)

level (tear down so as to make flat with the ground)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A flat surface at right angles to a plumb line

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

horizontal surface; level

Context example:

park the car on the level

Hypernyms ("level" is a kind of...):

surface (the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "level"):

floor; flooring (the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure))

paved surface (a level horizontal surface covered with paving material)

platform (a raised horizontal surface)

Derivation:

level (tear down so as to make flat with the ground)

Sense 7

Meaning:

An abstract place usually conceived as having depth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

layer; level; stratum

Context example:

the mind functions on many strata simultaneously

Hypernyms ("level" is a kind of...):

place (an abstract mental location)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

floor; level; storey; story

Context example:

what level is the office on?

Hypernyms ("level" is a kind of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "level"):

first floor; ground floor; ground level (the floor of a building that is at or nearest to the level of the ground around the building)

attic; garret; loft (floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage)

loft (floor consisting of a large unpartitioned space over a factory or warehouse or other commercial space)

entresol; mezzanine; mezzanine floor (intermediate floor just above the ground floor)

basement; cellar (the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage)

Holonyms ("level" is a part of...):

building; edifice (a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place)

• LEVEL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

Synonyms:

flat; level; plane

Context example:

skirts sewn with fine flat seams

Similar:

even (being level or straight or regular and without variation as e.g. in shape or texture; or being in the same plane or at the same height as something else (i.e. even with))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not showing abrupt variations

Synonyms:

level; unwavering

Context example:

she gave him a level look

Similar:

steady (not subject to change or variation especially in behavior)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Being on a precise horizontal plane

Context example:

a billiard table must be level

Similar:

horizontal (parallel to or in the plane of the horizon or a base line)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Oriented at right angles to the plumb

Context example:

the picture is level

Similar:

even (being level or straight or regular and without variation as e.g. in shape or texture; or being in the same plane or at the same height as something else (i.e. even with))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Of the score in a contest

Synonyms:

even; level; tied

Context example:

the score is tied

Similar:

equal (having the same quantity, value, or measure as another)

• LEVEL (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Aim at

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

level criticism or charges at somebody

Hypernyms (to "level" is one way to...):

aim; direct; take; take aim; train (point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Tear down so as to make flat with the ground

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

dismantle; level; pull down; rase; raze; take down; tear down

Context example:

The building was levelled

Hypernyms (to "level" is one way to...):

destroy; destruct (do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "level"):

bulldoze (flatten with or as if with a bulldozer)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

raise (construct, build, or erect)

Derivation:

level (a flat surface at right angles to a plumb line)

level (indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is centered in a tube of liquid)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make level or straight

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

even; even out; flush; level

Context example:

level the ground

Hypernyms (to "level" is one way to...):

change surface (undergo or cause to undergo a change in the surface)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "level"):

grade (level to the right gradient)

strickle; strike (smooth with a strickle)

strickle (level off with a strickle in a measuring container)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

level (indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is centered in a tube of liquid)

leveler; leveller (a radical who advocates the abolition of social distinctions)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Direct into a position for use

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

charge; level; point

Context example:

He charged his weapon at me

Hypernyms (to "level" is one way to...):

aim; direct; take; take aim; train (point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards)

Verb group:

point (be positionable in a specified manner)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 5

Meaning:

Talk frankly with; lay it on the line

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

I have to level with you

Hypernyms (to "level" is one way to...):

speak; talk (exchange thoughts; talk with)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 6

Meaning:

Become level or even

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

level; level off

Context example:

The ground levelled off

Hypernyms (to "level" is one way to...):

change surface (undergo or cause to undergo a change in the surface)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

level (indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is centered in a tube of liquid)

 Context examples 

This protein plays a role in regulating membrane lysophospholipid levels.

(Acyl-Protein Thioesterase 1, NCI Thesaurus)

Astrologers consider Pluto the higher octave of Mars, taking the qualities of Mars to an entirely new level.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The road grew more level, and we appeared to fly along.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Changes in the phosphorylation state of beta-catenin affect cell-cell adhesion, cell migration and the level of signaling beta-catenin.

(Adherens Junction Assembly Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

Aberrant high levels of expression are associated with pheochromocytoma.

(ADM wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Exposure to high levels can damage the brain and kidneys.

(Mercury, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)

In addition, those with only panic anxiety had significantly higher orexin levels than those with major depression accompanying their panic anxiety.

(The Mechanism of Panic Attacks, NIH, US)

Terms at the highest level of the MedDRA terminology.

(Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities System Organ Class, NCI Thesaurus)

Any bacteria that is not assigned to the species level but can be assigned to the Actinobacillus genus level.

(Actinobacillus, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Study participants were asked to rate their level of happiness and record their daily consumption of fruit and vegetables. (UQ News)

(Fruit and veggies pave the road to happiness, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)