level

lev|el1 [ `levl ] noun ***

▸ 1 amount

▸ 2 standard/status

▸ 3 part/stage of system

▸ 4 floor in building

▸ 5 for checking if flat

▸ 6 particular height

▸ 7 way of understanding something

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count the amount of something, especially when it can be counted or measured:

Unemployment is now at its lowest level for 15 years.

level of: The level of inflation has continued to rise.

a high/low level: There is a very high level of crime in this area.

at a level: Interest rates will probably remain at the same level for a few more months.

a ) the amount of liquid there is in a container, which can be seen by how high the liquid is:

Check the level of the fluid in the tank.

Be careful not to let the oil level drop too much.

The river is at its highest level for several years.

b ) the amount of a chemical in another substance:

A simple blood test is used to measure the level of alcohol in the blood.

The study found very high levels of mercury in some drinking water.

c ) the amount of a feeling that you feel:

level of: I fully understand the level of anger felt by the victims' families.

Many people have to cope with very high levels of stress at work.

2. ) count or uncount the standard of someone's ability:

He went on to study mathematics at university level.

This will be her first opportunity to play at an international level.

This is an excellent book for advanced level students.

a ) the job that someone has in a company or organization, which shows how senior they are:

He came into the firm at junior management level.

There will be no raises for workers at secretarial level and below.

b ) the place that someone has in a society, which shows how rich or important they are:

These social changes will affect everyone, at all levels of society.

3. ) count or uncount a part or stage in a system that has several parts or stages:

Decisions should be taken at local, not national, level.

by the time children reach secondary school level

4. ) count or uncount one of the floors in a building:

a garage at basement level

5. ) count a tool for measuring how flat something is

6. ) count or uncount a particular height:

Raise both arms to shoulder level.

7. ) count a way of understanding or expressing something:

The story can be understood on several different levels.

on the level INFORMAL

honest

on a personal level

used when you are talking about how something affects you:

I get along with Frank very well on a personal level, but we just can't work together!

stoop/descend to someone's level

to behave in the same bad way that someone else is behaving

level

lev|el 2 [ `levl ] adjective **

▸ 1 flat (and smooth)

▸ 2 at the same height

▸ 3 not behind or in front

▸ 4 equal in competition

▸ 5 not changed in amount

▸ 6 steady and calm

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) flat, not sloping up or down:

We found a nice level spot for a picnic under some pine trees.

a ) flat and smooth:

If the surface isn't level, the ball won't roll properly.

b ) flat, not pushed up into a round shape:

a level teaspoon/tablespoon: Add two level teaspoons of salt.

2. ) at the same height:

They stood next to each other so that their shoulders were level.

level with: My head was level with George's chin.

3. ) next to someone or something, not behind them or farther forward than them:

Make sure the edges are level before you glue them together.

level with: For most of the race he was level with the leader.

draw level (with): She slowed down as she drew level with the house.

4. ) equal in a competition:

At half time the two teams were level.

level with: The Mets are now level with Atlanta in their division.

5. ) used for describing amounts that have not become more or less:

Gas prices have remained level for the last few months.

6. ) steady and calm:

She spoke in a level tone of voice.

He looked at her with a level gaze.

your (dead) level best

if you do your level best, you try to do something as well as you can:

I tried my dead level best to get her to stay.

level

lev|el 3 [ `levl ] (past tense and past participle lev|eled or lev|elled; present participle lev|el|ing or lev|el|ling) verb transitive *

1. ) to make something flat:

Level the ground carefully before you start to pour the cement.

2. ) to destroy a building or group of buildings:

Hundreds of houses were leveled by the tornado.

3. ) to make something equal

level the playing field

to make a situation fair for all the people involved in it

`level at phrasal verb transitive

1. ) level something at someone to point a weapon at someone:

Andy leveled the revolver at me menacingly.

2. ) level at or level against level something at/against someone to criticize or accuse someone:

Several criticisms have been leveled at the company's board of directors.

Some serious allegations have been leveled against the bank.

,level `off or ,level `out phrasal verb

1. ) transitive to make something flat:

The ground will have to be leveled off before we can start building.

2. ) intransitive to stop sloping or moving up or down:

The road levels out as you get close to the coast.

The airplane will level off at around 35,000 feet.

3. ) intransitive to stop becoming more or less, and remain the same:

Oil prices should level out now that the war is over.

`level with phrasal verb transitive INFORMAL

level with someone to be honest with someone