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dovetail

noun dove·tail \ ˈdəv-ˌtāl \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 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

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
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

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

The initiative dovetails with Wheeler's 125th anniversary celebration in October.

— maureen c. gilmer, Indianapolis Star, "It might be hard to look away from these sidewalk pleas," 10 July 2018
That dovetails almost exactly with Team Trump’s wider (and whiter) makeover of the judicial branch.

— will bunch, Philly.com, "The unbearable whiteness of being Trump's judicial picks | Will Bunch," 10 July 2018
However, her voting record dovetails with the president's agenda more than 79 percent of the time, and despite a few instances of defiance, she's shown little interest in being a moderating force.

— luke darby, GQ, "Susan Collins Has a Chance to Show the American People What She’s Really Made Of," 2 July 2018
The push to outlaw the industry dovetails with a campaign by the state's most famous pimp for a seat in the state Legislature.

— chicagotribune.com, "Brothel bans weighed in Nevada as legal pimp runs for office," 11 June 2018
The effort dovetails with a campaign by the state’s most famous pimp for a seat in the state Legislature.

— Time, "A Brothel Owner Is Running for Office in Nevada as a Republican," 11 June 2018
The push to outlaw the industry dovetails with a campaign by the state's most famous pimp for a seat in the state Legislature.

— NBC News, "Nevada weighs brothel bans as legal pimp Dennis Hof runs for office," 11 June 2018
Such freedom also dovetails with ULS' commitment to inclusiveness and giving students opportunities to explore their interests.

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The enduring benefits of a no-cut athletic policy," 24 May 2018
Mazama’s conclusions dovetail with those of Cheryl Fields-Smith, an associate education professor at the University of Georgia who is one of the few researchers nationwide to investigate the motivations for black families that do homeschool.

— melinda d. anderson, The Atlantic, "The Radical Self-Reliance of Black Homeschooling," 17 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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BROWSE DICTIONARY

Dover, Strait of

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dovetail

dovetail cramp

dovetailer

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