dovetail

²dovetail

verb

Definition of DOVETAIL

transitive verb

1

a : to join by means of dovetails b : to cut to a dovetail

2

a : to fit skillfully to form a whole b : to fit together with

intransitive verb

: to fit together into a whole

Examples of DOVETAIL

1. <the Union and the Confederate accounts of the battle don't dovetail at all>

First Known Use of DOVETAIL

circa 1656

Related to DOVETAIL

Synonyms: accord, agree, answer, chord, cohere, coincide, comport, conform, consist, correspond, check, fit, go, harmonize, jibe, rhyme (also rime), sort, square, tally

Antonyms: differ (from), disagree (with)

Related Words: equal, match, parallel; align (also aline), line up, register

Near Antonyms: contradict, dispute, gainsay; negate, nullify; clash, conflict, jar

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