LEVEL


Meaning of LEVEL in English

/ ˈlevl; NAmE / noun , adjective , verb

■ noun

AMOUNT

1.

[ C ] the amount of sth that exists in a particular situation at a particular time :

a test that checks the level of alcohol in the blood

a relatively low / high level of crime

low / high pollution levels

Profits were at the same level as the year before.

STANDARD

2.

[ C , U ] a particular standard or quality :

a high level of achievement

a computer game with 15 levels

What is the level of this course?

He studied French to degree level .

Both players are on a level (= of the same standard) .

I refuse to sink to their level (= behave as badly as them) .

—see also A level , entry-level

RANK IN SCALE

3.

[ U , C ] a position or rank in a scale of size or importance :

a decision taken at board level

Discussions are currently being held at national level.

POINT OF VIEW

4.

[ C ] a particular way of looking at, reacting to or understanding sth :

On a more personal level, I would like to thank Jean for all the help she has given me.

Fables can be understood on various levels.

HEIGHT

5.

[ C , U ] the height of sth in relation to the ground or to what it used to be :

the level of water in the bottle

The cables are buried one metre below ground level .

The floodwater nearly reached roof level.

The tables are not on a level (= the same height) .

—see also eye level , sea level

FLOOR / LAYER

6.

[ C ] a floor of a building; a layer of ground :

The library is all on one level.

Archaeologists found pottery in the lowest level of the site.

a multi-level parking lot

—see also split-level

TOOL

7.

[ C ] = spirit level

IDIOMS

- on the level

■ adjective

FLAT

1.

having a flat surface that does not slope :

Pitch the tent on level ground.

Add a level tablespoon of flour (= enough to fill the spoon but not so much that it goes above the level of the top edge of the spoon) .

—compare heaped

EQUAL

2.

level (with sth) having the same height, position, value, etc. as sth :

Are these pictures level?

This latest rise is intended to keep wages level with inflation.

She drew level with (= came beside) the police car.

3.

level (with sb) ( especially BrE , sport ) having the same score as sb :

A good second round brought him level with the tournament leader.

France took an early lead but Wales soon drew level (= scored the same number of points) .

VOICE / LOOK

4.

not showing any emotion; steady

SYN even :

a level gaze

—see also levelly

IDIOMS

- be level pegging

- do / try your level best (to do sth)

- a level playing field

■ verb

( -ll- NAmE -l- )

MAKE FLAT

1.

[ vn ] level sth (off / out) to make sth flat or smooth :

If you're laying tiles, the floor will need to be levelled first.

DESTROY

2.

[ vn ] to destroy a building or a group of trees completely by knocking it down

SYN raze :

The blast levelled several buildings in the area.

MAKE EQUAL

3.

to make sth equal or similar :

[ vn ] ( BrE )

Davies levelled the score at 2 all.

[also v ]

POINT

4.

[ vn ] level sth (at sb) to point sth, especially a gun, at sb :

I had a gun levelled at my head.

IDIOMS

- level the playing field

PHRASAL VERBS

- level sth against / at sb

- level sth down

- level off / out

- level sth up

- level with sb

••

WORD ORIGIN

Middle English (denoting an instrument to determine whether a surface is horizontal): from Old French livel , based on Latin libella , diminutive of libra scales, balance.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.