Main Entry:

¹lev·el

Pronunciation:

\ˈle-vəl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, plumb line, from Anglo-French livel, from Vulgar Latin *libellum, alteration of Latin libella, from diminutive of libra weight, balance

Date:

14th century

1: a device for establishing a horizontal line or plane by means of a bubble in a liquid that shows adjustment to the horizontal by movement to the center of a slightly bowed glass tube2: a measurement of the difference of altitude of two points by means of a level3: horizontal condition ; especially : equilibrium of a fluid marked by a horizontal surface of even altitude <water seeks its own level>4 a: an approximately horizontal line or surface taken as an index of altitude b: a practically horizontal surface or area (as of land)5: a position in a scale or rank (as of achievement, significance, or value) <funded at the national level> <the job appeals to me on many levels>6 a: a line or surface that cuts perpendicularly all plumb lines that it meets and hence would everywhere coincide with a surface of still water b: the plane of the horizon or a line in it7: a horizontal passage in a mine intended for regular working and transportation8: a concentration of a constituent especially of a body fluid (as blood)9: the magnitude of a quantity considered in relation to an arbitrary reference value ; broadly : magnitude, intensity <a high level of hostility>

— on the level

: bona fide, honest