dovetail

1 of 2

noun

dove·​tail ˈdəv-ˌtāl 

: 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)

Illustration of dovetail

• 1 mortises
• 2 tenons
• 3 joint

dovetail

2 of 2

verb

dovetailed; dovetailing; dovetails

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

Synonyms of dovetail

Verb

• coincide
• correspond
• conform
• fit

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

The surge in stocks with a negative beta dovetails with other unusual market signals. — Deena Zaidi,nick Wells, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

Improvements in blood tests, meanwhile, dovetail with rapid developments in treatments for various cancers, making the disease ever more survivable or even curable. — Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 22 June 2026

Verb

The new Kennedy project dovetails perfectly with the group’s mission, NOA Secretary Mary Lou Wehrli said. — Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

For many, stop-motion holds a real nostalgia, Henderson said — another theme of the show, dovetailing with Michael’s yearning. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1573, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1657, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for dovetail

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale

Kids Definition

dovetail

1 of 2 noun

dove·​tail -ˌtāl 

: something shaped like a dove's tail

especially : a joint between two pieces (as of wood) formed by a wedge-shaped part that fits tightly into a wedge-shaped slot in the other piece

dovetail

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to join by means of dovetails

b

: to cut to a dovetail

2

: to fit skillfully together to form a whole