leveling

Verb

level (third-person singular simple present levels, present participle (US) leveling or (UK) levelling, simple past and past participle (US) leveled or (UK) levelled)

1. (transitive) To adjust so as to make as flat or perpendicular to the ground as possible.
   • You can level the table by turning the pads that screw into the feet.
2. (transitive) To destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze.
   • The hurricane leveled the forest.
3. (intransitive, roleplaying games) To progress to the next level.
   • I levelled after defeating the dragon.

   Synonyms:

   level up

4. (transitive) To aim or direct (a weapon, a stare, an accusation, etc).
   • He levelled an accusation of fraud at the directors. The hunter levels the gun before taking a shot.
5. (transitive) To direct or impose (a penalty, fine, etc) at or upon (someone) [with on or against or at].
   • If the right of killing salmon belong exclusively to the King, and consequently to his donatories, why has not the Legislature secured the right by levelling penalties against such as should encroach upon it … ?1809, William Ross (Jr.), Abridgement of the laws of Scotland relating to hunting [etc], page 60

   Synonyms:

   levy

6. (intransitive) To make the score of a game equal.
   • Holt was furious referee Michael Oliver refused to then award him a penalty after Ledley King appeared to pull his shirt and his anger was compounded when Spurs immediately levelled.2012 April 9, Mandeep Sanghera, “Tottenham 1-2 Norwich”, in BBC Sport

   Synonyms:

   equalize

See all 33 meanings of level

Noun

paradigm leveling (countable and uncountable, plural paradigm levelings)

1. Regularisation of a paradigm, alignment of irregular forms on regular forms; replacement of irregular forms by regular forms in an inflection.

   Synonyms:

   analogical leveling, morphological leveling