(~s, ~ling, ~led)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: in AM, use '~ing', '~ed'
1.
A ~ is a point on a scale, for example a scale of amount, quality, or difficulty.
If you don’t know your cholesterol ~, it’s a good idea to have it checked...
We do have the lowest ~ of inflation for some years...
The exercises are marked according to their ~ of difficulty.
N-COUNT: with supp
2.
The ~ of a river, lake, or ocean or the ~ of liquid in a container is the height of its surface.
The water ~ of the Mississippi River is already 6.5 feet below normal...
The gauge relies upon a sensor in the tank to relay the fuel ~.
N-SING: the N
see also sea ~
3.
In cookery, a ~ spoonful of a substance such as flour or sugar is an amount that fills the spoon exactly, without going above the top edge.
Stir in 1 ~ teaspoon of yeast.
? heaped
ADJ: ADJ n
4.
If something is at a particular ~, it is at that height.
Liz sank down until the water came up to her chin and the bubbles were at eye ~.
N-SING: usu supp N
5.
If one thing is ~ with another thing, it is at the same height as it.
He leaned over the counter so his face was almost ~ with the boy’s...
Amy knelt down so that their eyes were ~.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n
6.
When something is ~, it is completely flat with no part higher than any other.
The floor was ~, but the ceiling sloped toward his head.
...a plateau of fairly ~ ground.
ADJ
7.
If you draw ~ with someone or something, you get closer to them until you are by their side. (mainly BRIT)
Just before we drew ~ with the gates, he slipped out of the jeep and disappeared into the crowd...
ADV: ADV after v
•
Level is also an adjective.
He waited until they were ~ with the door before he turned around sharply and punched Graham.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n
8.
If someone or something such as a violent storm ~s 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 ~ed sugar plantations and destroyed homes.
VERB: V n
9.
If an accusation or criticism is ~led at someone, they are accused of doing wrong or they are criticized for something they have done.
Allegations of corruption were ~led at him and his family...
He ~ed bitter criticism against the US.
VERB: be V-ed at/against n, V n at/against n, also V n
10.
If you ~ an object at someone or something, you lift it and point it in their direction.
He said thousands of Koreans still ~led guns at one another along the demilitarised zone between them.
VERB: V n at n, also V n
11.
If you ~ with someone, you tell them the truth and do not keep anything secret. (INFORMAL)
I’ll ~ with you. I’m no great detective. I’ve no training or anything...
VERB: V with n
12.
see also A ~
13.
If you say that you will do your ~ 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.
The President told American troops that he would do his ~ best to bring them home soon.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR to-inf emphasis
14.
a ~ playing field: see playing field