level (levels plural & 3rd person present) (levelling present participle) (levelled past tense & past participle )
in AM, use leveling, leveled
1 n-count A level is a point on a scale, for example a scale of amount, quality, or difficulty.
with supp
If you don't know your cholesterol level, it's a good idea to have it checked..., We do have the lowest level of inflation for some years..., The exercises are marked according to their level of difficulty.
2 n-sing The level of a river, lake, or ocean or the level of liquid in a container is the height of its surface.
the N
The water level of the Mississippi River is already 6.5 feet below normal..., The gauge relies upon a sensor in the tank to relay the fuel level.
→
sea level
3 adj In cookery, a level spoonful of a substance such as flour or sugar is an amount that fills the spoon exactly, without going above the top edge.
ADJ n (Antonym: heaped)
Stir in 1 level teaspoon of yeast.
4 n-sing If something is at a particular level, it is at that height.
usu supp N
Liz sank down until the water came up to her chin and the bubbles were at eye level.
5 adj If one thing is levelwith another thing, it is at the same height as it.
v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n
He leaned over the counter so his face was almost level with the boy's..., Amy knelt down so that their eyes were level.
6 adj When something is level, it is completely flat with no part higher than any other.
The floor was level, but the ceiling sloped toward his head., ...a plateau of fairly level ground.
7 adv If you draw level with someone or something, you get closer to them until you are by their side.
(mainly BRIT) ADV after v
Just before we drew level with the gates, he slipped out of the jeep and disappeared into the crowd...
Level is also an adjective., adj v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n
He waited until they were level with the door before he turned around sharply and punched Graham.
8 verb If someone or something such as a violent storm levels a building or area of land, they destroy it completely or make it completely flat.
The storm was the most powerful to hit Hawaii this century. It leveled sugar plantations and destroyed homes. V n
9 verb If an accusation or criticism islevelledat someone, they are accused of doing wrong or they are criticized for something they have done.
Allegations of corruption were levelled at him and his family... be V-ed at/against n
He leveled bitter criticism against the US. V n at/against n, Also V n
10 verb If you level an object at someone or something, you lift it and point it in their direction.
He said thousands of Koreans still levelled guns at one another along the demilitarised zone between them. V n at n, Also V n
11 verb If you levelwith someone, you tell them the truth and do not keep anything secret.
INFORMAL I'll level with you. I'm no great detective. I've no training or anything... V with n
13 If you say that you will do your level best to do something, you are emphasizing that you will try as hard as you can to do it, even if the situation makes it very difficult.
do one's level best phrase V inflects, usu PHR to-inf (emphasis)
The President told American troops that he would do his level best to bring them home soon.
14
→
a level playing field
→
playing field level off , level out
1 phrasal verb If a changing number or amount levels off or levels out, it stops increasing or decreasing at such a fast speed.
The figures show evidence that murders in the nation's capital are beginning to level off... V P
Inflation is finally levelling out at around 11% a month. V P prep
2 phrasal verb If an aircraft levels off or levels out, it travels horizontally after having been travelling in an upwards or downwards direction. The aircraft levelled out at about 30,000 feet. V P level out →
level off
A level (A levels plural )A levels are British educational qualifications which schoolchildren take when they are seventeen or eighteen years old. People usually need A levels if they want to go to university in Britain. n-var
He left school with four A levels...
entry-level
1 adj Entry-level is used to describe basic low-cost versions of products such as cars or computers that are suitable for people who have no previous experience or knowledge of them. (BUSINESS) usu ADJ n
Several companies are offering new, entry-level models in hopes of attracting more buyers.
2 adj Entry-level jobs are suitable for people who do not have previous experience or qualifications in a particular area of work. (BUSINESS) usu ADJ n
Many entry-level jobs were filled by school leavers.
ground level
If something is atground level, it is at the same level as the ground, as opposed to being higher up or below the surface. n-uncount oft prep N
The hotel is set on three floors. There's a bar and cafe at ground level..., The remaining block of woodland is cut down to ground level.
level crossing (level crossings plural )A level crossing is a place where a railway line crosses a road.
(BRIT) n-count
in AM, use grade crossing, railroad crossing
level-headed
If you describe a person as level-headed, you mean that they are calm and sensible even in difficult situations. adj
(=sensible)
Simon is level-headed and practical..., His level-headed approach suggests he will do what is necessary.
level pegging , level-pegging
If two opponents in a competition or contest are level pegging, they are equal with each other.
(BRIT) adj v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n
An opinion poll published in May showed Mrs Yardley was level-pegging with Mr Simpson.
multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing is a marketing technique which involves people buying a product, then earning a commission by selling it to their friends. The abbreviation MLM is also used. n-uncount
...multi-level marketing schemes.
sea level , sea-level
Sea level is the average level of the sea with respect to the land. The height of mountains or other areas is calculated in relation to sea level. n-uncount
The stadium was 2275 metres above sea level...
spirit level (spirit levels plural ), spirit-level A spirit level is a device for testing to see if a surface is level. It consists of a plastic, wood, or metal frame containing a glass tube of liquid with an air bubble in it. n-count
split-level
A split-level house or room has part of the ground floor at a different level from another part, usually because the house has been built on ground that slopes. adj usu ADJ n
top-level
A top-level discussion or activity is one that involves the people with the greatest amount of power and authority in an organization or country. adj ADJ n
...a top-level meeting of American generals at the Pentagon.
