| levee |
noun |
The act of rising., A morning assembly or reception of visitors, — in distinction from a soiree, or evening assembly; a matinee; hence, also, any general or somewhat miscellaneous gathering of guests, whether in the daytime or evening; as, the president’s levee., To attend the levee or levees of., An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi; sometimes, the steep bank of a river., To keep within a channel by means of levees; as, to levee a river. |
| level |
noun |
A line or surface to which, at every point, a vertical or plumb line is perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere parallel to the surface of still water; — this is the true level, and is a curve or surface in which all points are equally distant from the center of the earth, or rather would be so if the earth were an exact sphere., A horizontal line or plane; that is, a straight line or a plane which is tangent to a true level at a given point and hence parallel to the horizon at that point; — this is the apparent level at the given point., An approximately horizontal line or surface at a certain degree of altitude, or distance from the center of the earth; as, to climb from the level of the coast to the level of the plateau and then descend to the level of the valley or of the sea., Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of different elevation., A uniform or average height; a normal plane or altitude; a condition conformable to natural law or which will secure a level surface; as, moving fluids seek a level., An instrument by which to find a horizontal line, or adjust something with reference to a horizontal line., A measurement of the difference of altitude of two points, by means of a level; as, to take a level., A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine., Even; flat; having no part higher than another; having, or conforming to, the curvature which belongs to the undisturbed liquid parts of the earth’s surface; as, a level field; level ground; the level surface of a pond or lake., Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal; as, the telescope is now level., Even with anything else; of the same height; on the same line or plane; on the same footing; of equal importance; — followed by with, sometimes by to., Straightforward; direct; clear; open., Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level head; a level understanding. [Colloq.], Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection., To make level; to make horizontal; to bring to the condition of a level line or surface; hence, to make flat or even; as, to level a road, a walk, or a garden., To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce to a flat surface; to lower., To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in taking aim; to aim; to direct., Figuratively, to bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.; as, to level all the ranks and conditions of men., To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level remarks to the capacity of children., To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit., To aim a gun, spear, etc., horizontally; hence, to aim or point a weapon in direct line with the mark; fig., to direct the eye, mind, or effort, directly to an object. |
| lever |
adjective |
More agreeable; more pleasing., Rather., A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. Specif., a bar of metal, wood, or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures., A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it., An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it. |