level off


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lev·el

 (lĕv′əl)
n.
1.
a. Relative position or rank on a scale: the local level of government; studying at the graduate level.
b. A relative degree, as of achievement, intensity, or concentration: an unsafe level of toxicity; a high level of frustration.
2. A natural or proper position, place, or stage: I finally found my own level in the business world.
3. Position along a vertical axis; height or depth: a platform at knee level.
4.
a. A horizontal line or plane at right angles to the plumb.
b. The position or height of such a line or plane.
5. A flat, horizontal surface.
6. A land area of uniform elevation.
7.
a. An instrument for ascertaining whether a surface is horizontal, vertical, or at a 45° angle, consisting essentially of an encased, liquid-filled tube containing an air bubble that moves to a center window when the instrument is set on an even plane. Also called spirit level.
b. Such a device combined with a telescope and used in surveying.
c. A computation of the difference in elevation between two points by using such a device.
adj.
1. Having a flat, smooth surface: a level countertop.
2. Being on a horizontal plane: a level field.
3.
a. Being at the same height or position as another; even.
b. Being at the same degree of rank, standing, or advantage as another; equal.
c. Being or relating to a specified rank or standing. Often used in combination: a lower-level administrator.
4. Exhibiting no abrupt variations; steady: spoke in a level tone.
5. Rational and balanced; sensible: came to a level appraisal of the situation; keeps a level head in an emergency.
6. Filled evenly to the top: a level tablespoon of the medicine.
v. lev·eled, lev·el·ing, lev·els or lev·elled or lev·el·ling
v.tr.
1.
a. To make horizontal, flat, or even: leveled the driveway with a roller; leveled off the hedges with the clippers.
b. To place on the same rank; equalize.
2.
a. To tear down (a building, for example); raze.
b. To knock down, as with a blow; lay low: leveled the opponent with an uppercut.
3.
a. To aim along a horizontal plane: leveled the gun at the target.
b. To direct emphatically or forcefully toward someone: leveled charges of dishonesty. See Synonyms at aim.
4. To measure the different elevations of (a tract of land) with a level.
v.intr.
1. To bring persons or things to an equal level; equalize.
2. To aim a weapon horizontally.
3. Informal To be frank and open: advised the suspect to level with the authorities.
adv.
Along a flat or even line or plane.
Phrasal Verb:
level off
1. To move toward stability or consistency: Prices leveled off.
2. To maneuver an aircraft into a flight attitude that is parallel to the surface of the earth after gaining or losing altitude.
Idioms:
(one's) level best
The best one can do in an earnest attempt: I did my level best in math class.
on the level Informal
Without deception; honest.

[Middle English, an instrument to check that a surface is horizontal, from Old French livel, from Vulgar Latin *lībellum, from Latin lībella, diminutive of lībra, balance.]

lev′el·ly adv.
lev′el·ness n.
Synonyms: level, flat1, even1, plane1, smooth, flush1
These adjectives describe surfaces without elevations or depressions. Level implies being parallel with the line of the horizon: acres of level farmland. Flat applies to surfaces without curves, protuberances, or indentations: "There were no woods behind the yard, just an expanse of flat cleared land and then a hill that sloped down into the former quarry" (Frederick Reiken).
Even refers to flat surfaces in which no part is higher or lower than another: the even surface of the mirror. Plane is a mathematical term referring to a surface containing all the straight lines connecting any two points on it: a plane figure. Smooth describes a surface on which the absence of irregularities can be established by sight or touch: smooth marble. Flush applies to a surface that is on an exact level with an adjoining one: The door is flush with the wall. See Also Synonyms at aim.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.level off - become level or even; "The ground levelled off"
change surface - undergo or cause to undergo a change in the surface
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
يَثْبُت ، يَهْدأ
ustálit se
stabilisere sig
jafnast; ná jafnvægi
aynı düzeye getirmek

level

(ˈlevl) noun
1. height, position, strength, rank etc. The level of the river rose; a high level of intelligence.
2. a horizontal division or floor. the third level of the multi-storey car park.
3. a kind of instrument for showing whether a surface is level. a spirit level.
4. a flat, smooth surface or piece of land. It was difficult running uphill but he could run fast on the level.
adjective
1. flat, even, smooth or horizontal. a level surface; a level spoonful (= an amount which just fills the spoon to the top of the sides).
2. of the same height, standard etc. The top of the kitchen sink is level with the window-sill; The scores of the two teams are level.
3. steady, even and not rising or falling much. a calm, level voice.
verbpast tense, past participle ˈlevelled , (American) ˈleveled
1. to make flat, smooth or horizontal. He levelled the soil.
2. to make equal. His goal levelled the scores of the two teams.
3. (usually with at) to aim (a gun etc). He levelled his pistol at the target.
4. to pull down. The bulldozer levelled the block of flats.
ˈlevelness noun
level crossing
a place where a road crosses a railway without a bridge.
level-ˈheaded adjective
calm and sensible.
do one's level best
to do one's very best.
level off
to make or become flat, even, steady etc. After rising for so long, prices have now levelled off.
level out
to make or become level. The road levels out as it comes down to the plain.
on a level with
level with. His eyes were on a level with the shop counter.
on the level
fair; honest.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in periodicals archive ?
Many in the research and policy worlds have taken for granted the existence of a phenomenon known as the "plateau effect," wherein test scores rise in the early years of a test-based accountability system and then level off. Drawing from our database of reading and math test results from all 50 states going back as far as 1999, the Center on Education Policy (CEP) looked for evidence of a plateau effect in 55 trend lines from 16 states with six to ten years of consistent test data.
And if the price does level off, then OPEC may be able to claim some credit, given when it cut quotas.
For his firm, he's anticipating growth to level off over the next two years and, potentially, minimal layoffs (if any) within the next six months.
The pilot reported that while he was attempting to "level off" the "elevator froze," preventing him from leveling off.