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dovetail

noun dove·tail \ ˈdəv-ˌtāl \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: dovetail in a Sentence

Definition of dovetail

: 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)

See dovetail defined for English-language learners

See dovetail defined for kids

Recent Examples of dovetail from the Web

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
The increase in spending dovetails with Trump’s recently released strategy for national defense, which cites the rise of adversaries like Russia and China.

— tom vanden brook, USA TODAY, "State of the Union fact check: Fully fund Pentagon; caps have been busted before," 30 Jan. 2018
The techniques and tools used today to hand carve dovetail joints has changed little.

— timothy dahl, Popular Mechanics, "Build a Wooden Tool Tote Using Dovetails and No Power Tools," 29 Feb. 2016
In 2017, Trump’s previous pro-wrestling playacting dovetails neatly, and in gif form, with an attack on the Fourth Estate.

— adrienne lafrance, The Atlantic, "Conspiracy Theories Are for Underdogs," 22 Oct. 2017
The way the cops use arrest as a form of crowd control dovetails so neatly with the way prosecutors drain us, even without getting any results.

— natasha lennard, Esquire, "Still Fighting at Standing Rock," 19 Sep. 2017
Neither character sees the other, but their dialogue dovetails and alternates, creating an emotional pendulum that swings from cool scientific consideration to the delusional anguish that will lead Villegas to pitch a rock at his beloved.

— christine dolen, miamiherald, "Intriguing stories swirl in new play about the iconic Mona Lisa," 17 July 2017
The American photographer, whose twin talents for dynamic portraiture and spartan still-lifes dovetail beautifully in his fashion work, is perhaps best known for his six decades of contributions to Vogue.

— The New Yorker, "Irving Penn: Centennial," 22 May 2017

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.

Illustration of dovetail

First Known Use of dovetail

1573

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

2

dovetail

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

See dovetail defined for English-language learners

Examples of dovetail in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of dovetail from the Web

My experience actually dovetails nicely with what the chamber’s trying to achieve.

— ileana najarro, Houston Chronicle, "Q&A: Asian Chamber of Commerce’s new president seeks to grow Asian civic engagement," 5 June 2018
This has an immediate direct impact on their quality of life and their health.’’ The data driving the report predate the Trump administration, but its conclusions dovetail with how officials view the problem.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Feds: Skimping can’t save seniors from rising med cost," 4 June 2018
This shopping philosophy dovetails nicely with my life philosophy.

— WSJ, "How One Bargain Blazer Can Change a Woman’s Career," 31 May 2018
That dovetails into the need for a starting, athletic linebacker so tight ends don’t go unchecked like the last couple of seasons.

— dave hyde, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hyde5: Here's the stat Dolphins are building around defensively," 18 Apr. 2018
This dovetails with another Pruitt habit, which is a taste for traveling in high style.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Scott Pruitt’s Scandals Won’t Stop Coming, and Trump Might Actually Have to Fire Him," 5 Apr. 2018
The open season for air tours dovetailed nicely with the completion in 2007 of the glass cantilever Skywalk bridge that juts 70 feet over the West Rim’s Eagle Point.

— annette mcgivney, Outside Online, "300 Flights Through the Grand Canyon's Helicopter Alley," 24 May 2018
That dovetails with historical artifacts of scientific advance.

— matt campbell, kansascity, "See Kansas Pteranodon and other dinosaurs at new Museum at Prairiefire exhibit | The Kansas City Star," 8 Mar. 2018
The proposal, which is summarized at the postcoastal.com website created last month, dovetails with what city planners envision for the area near the sports arena in a new growth blueprint scheduled for City Council approval on June 26.

— david garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Upscale office complex could spur revitalization of sports arena area," 12 May 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.

First Known Use of dovetail

circa 1656

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

dovetail Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

differ (from), disagree (with);

Near Antonyms

contradict, dispute, gainsay;

negate, nullify;

clash, conflict, jar;

Related Words

equal, match, parallel;

align (also aline), line up, register;

Phrases

fall in with;

DOVETAIL Defined for English Language Learners

dovetail

noun

Definition of dovetail for English Language Learners

: a type of joint that is used to connect two pieces of wood together

dovetail

verb

Definition of dovetail for English Language Learners

: to join (two pieces of wood) with dovetail joints
: to fit together in a pleasing or satisfying way

Learn More about dovetail

See words that rhyme with dovetail Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dovetail Spanish Central: Translation of dovetail Nglish: Translation of dovetail for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dovetail for Arabic speakers

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