/ 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.