level (level)

noun

• 1a horizontal plane or line with respect to the distance above or below a given point: the front garden is on a level with this floor
• a height or distance from the ground or another stated or understood base: storms caused river levels to rise
• a floor within a multistorey building.

• 2a position on a scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality: a high level of unemployment debt rose to unprecedented levels
• an intellectual, social, or moral standard: at six he could play chess at an advanced level [mass noun]: women do better at degree level
• a position in a hierarchy: a junior level of management

• 3an instrument marked with a line parallel to the plane of the horizon for testing whether things are horizontal.
• Surveying an instrument for giving a horizontal line of sight.

• 4a flat tract of land: [in place names]: the Somerset Levels

adjective

• 1having a flat, horizontal surface: we had reached level ground
• (of a quantity of a dry substance) with the contents not rising above the brim of the measure: a level teaspoon of salt

• 2at the same height as someone or something else: his eyes were level with hers

• 3having the same relative position; not in front of or behind: the car backed rapidly until it was level with me
• chiefly British having the same position or score in a contest: the two teams finished level on points
• not having risen or fallen; unchanged: earnings were level at 17.5p a share

• 4calm and steady: the cold, level gaze he had given her

verb (levels, levelling, levelled; US levels, leveling, leveled)

• 1 [with object] give a flat and even surface to: contractors started levelling the ground for the new power station
• demolish (a building or town): bulldozers are now waiting to level their home

• 2 [no object] (level off/out) begin to fly horizontally after climbing or diving: he quickly levelled off at 1500 ft
• (of a path, road, or incline) cease to slope: the track levelled out and there below us was the bay
• remain at a steady level after falling or rising: inflation has levelled out at an acceptable rate

• 3 [with object] chiefly British make (something, especially a score in sport) equal or similar: Woods sliced the ball into the net to level the score [no object]: Ardsley deservedly levelled with two minutes remaining
• (level something up/down) increase or reduce something in order to remove a disparity.

• 4 [with object] aim (a weapon): he levelled a pistol at us
• direct (a criticism or accusation): accusations of corruption had been levelled against him

• 5 [no object] (level with) informal be frank or honest with (someone): when are you going to level with me?

• 6 [with object] Surveying ascertain differences in the height of (land).