: an instrument consisting of two rules or arms jointed together and opening to any angle for drawing angles or adjusting surfaces to be cut at an angle
2
a
: the angle that one surface or line makes with another when they are not at right angles
b
: the slant of such a surface or line
c
: the surface or line at such a slant or inclination
3
: the part of printing type extending from face to shoulder
Noun
the bevel of the mirror Verb
a tool that is used for beveling wood
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Adjective
Here, the nut on the left marks the point at which this bevel head bolt will be cut to length.—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 19 Jan. 2023 Even Ducati, founded in 1926 to make radios, didn’t produce its first motorbike until 1949, and by the early 1980s was nearly out of business, saved by investors and modern designs far removed from its original bevel-drive power plants.—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2021
Noun
Most Japanese-style carbon-steel kitchen knives have asymmetric bevels, meaning that each side of the cutting edge is sharpened at a different angle.—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025 Finishing includes linear brushing, polished bevels, and sandblasted details.—Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Smoother lugs, softer finishing, and beveled edges are also part of the new equation for the Big Bang.—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 19 Jan. 2026 The sculpted sides and beveled edges of the fiberglass camper further add to the not-quite-a-box form, giving the rig the feel of a more cohesive singular vehicle, brought home by the matching beige paint.—New Atlas, 5 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bevel
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle French *bevel, from Old French *baivel, from baïf with open mouth, from baer to yawn — more at abeyance