Level

Level, lev′el, n. a horizontal line or surface: a surface without inequalities: proper position: usual elevation: state of equality: the line of direction: an instrument for showing the horizontal.—adj. horizontal: even, smooth: even with anything else: uniform: well-balanced, sound of judgment: in the same line or plane: equal in position or dignity.—v.t. to make horizontal: to make flat or smooth: to make equal: to take aim:—pr.p. lev′elling; pa.t. and pa.p. lev′elled.—ns. Lev′el-cross′ing, or Grade′-cross′ing, a place at which a common road crosses a railway at the same level; Lev′eller, one who levels or makes equal, esp. one of an ultra-republican and revolutionary sect or party which grew up in the parliamentary army in 1647, crushed by Cromwell in 1649; Lev′elling, the act of making uneven surfaces level: the process of finding the differences in level between different points on the surface of the earth by means of a Levelling instrument, consisting of a telescope carrying a parallel and sensitive spirit-level, adjustable by means of screws; Lev′elling-rod, -staff, an instrument used in levelling, in conjunction with a levelling instrument, or with a spirit-level and a telescope.—adv. Lev′elly, evenly.—n. Lev′elness, state of being level, even, or equal.—Level down or up, to lower or raise to the same level or status; Do one's level best (coll.) to do one's utmost. [O. Fr. livel, liveau (Fr. niveau)—L. libella, a plummet, dim. of libra, a balance.]