dovetail

noun

dove·tail | \ ˈdəv-ˌtāl

Definition of dovetail

(Entry 1 of 2)

: something resembling a dove's tail especially : a flaring tenon and a mortise into which it fits tightly making an interlocking joint between two pieces (as of wood)

dovetail

verb

dovetailed; dovetailing; dovetails

Definition of dovetail (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to join by means of dovetails

b : to cut to a dovetail

2a : to fit skillfully to form a whole

b : to fit together with

intransitive verb

: to fit together into a whole

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about dovetail

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Examples of dovetail in a Sentence

Verb

the Union and the Confederate accounts of the battle don't dovetail at all

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

This method of collecting dovetails nicely with Rennell’s work, which involves creating and curating clothing and home goods for her online shop, Beklina. — Marley Marius, Vogue, "No Corners or Closets: What It’s Like to Live in a California “Spaceship House”," 27 Aug. 2018 The norms promoted at Friday’s meeting dovetail with EU laws and rules used by organizations like the World Bank, which don’t always apply in counties where China has been active. — James T. Areddy, WSJ, "European and Asian Nations Join U.S.’s Economic Pushback Against China," 19 Oct. 2018 The ending of your book dovetails with the arrival of social media. — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, "Inside Marc Jacobs: Unseen, a Book of Backstage Photography by Robert Fairer, Who Shot the Designer’s Earliest Shows," 12 Sep. 2018 Storr argues that this uncompassionate edge of self-esteemery dovetails with the economic ideas of Ayn Rand and the competitive individualism of her followers in neoliberal politics. — Anthony Gottlieb, New York Times, "How We Got to Be So Self-Absorbed: The Long Story," 21 June 2018 Using dovetails and other old-fashioned woodcuts, Sebastian Errazuriz makes furniture that seems fresh, new, and even a bit on this side of living and breathing. — John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, "Transforming Cabinets Move in Ways That Boggle the Mind," 22 June 2015 His adventures as an asylum-seeker dovetail with current headlines about U.S. immigration policies and international human rights issues. — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, "A Mesmerizing 'Merchant Of Venice' As Arts & Ideas Hits Its Stride," 21 June 2018 The cabinets, painted a soft white cream, were built to last, with dovetail joinery and quality hardware. — James Alexander, courant.com, "Property of the Week: 85 Memorial Drive, West Hartford," 27 July 2017 Fire Resistant The company’s push dovetails nicely with a government plan to reform Portugal’s forests, following last year’s deadly fires. — Bloomberg.com, "Portugal Doubles Down on Cork After Demand Revives in Wine Business," 28 Mar. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

That dovetails with the work of expert analytics departments. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "When the World’s Greatest Soccer Players Gather, Scouts Stay Away," 5 July 2018 The group's aims, supposedly directed against extremism, dovetailed with the ideas of the country's growing far-right culture — a potent mix of nationalism, anti-Muslim prejudice and conspiracy theories that thrives online. — Fox News, "A dream of uniting UK soccer fans swerves to the far right," 3 June 2018 The whole concept of Casa Sur reflects how trends in fashion, retail, and social media have dovetailed in 2018. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "41 Brands, One Gorgeous Space: Casa Sur Brings Emerging Designers Across Fashion, Beauty, and Food to Bushwick," 28 Sep. 2018 The theme of Hatch’s speech dovetails with the goal of using a future library and think tank named after him in Utah to lead a movement toward bipartisanship and civility in politics. — Brady Mccombs, The Seattle Times, "Hatch laments loss of civility for US Senate in ‘crisis’," 12 Dec. 2018 Netflix The last season of House of Cards dovetailed with the 2016 presidential election, which saw our dreams of the first-ever female president die. — Jenny Hollander, Marie Claire, "First Photos of Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear in 'House of Cards' Are Foreboding," 27 Aug. 2018 Out there on those long, empty stretches of seemingly lawless road, our country’s love affair with cars dovetailed perfectly with the machismo of the American West. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, "Long Live Route 66," 19 July 2018 Yet the report also describes a broader societal and official reluctance to educate girls as dovetailing with Taliban wishes and pressure. — Pamela Constable, Washington Post, "The Taliban has successfully built a parallel state in many parts of Afghanistan, report says," 21 June 2018 The assessment looks at how businesses can step up and dovetail better with skills providers as well as how the government can help with initiatives like apprenticeship programs. — Grace Donnelly, Fortune, "London First CEO Says the Business Community Wants to Unite the U.K. Ahead of Brexit," 12 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dovetail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.