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¹bevel

adjective bev·el \ˈbe-vəl\

Definition of BEVEL

: oblique, beveled <a bevel edge>

First Known Use of BEVEL

circa 1600

Rhymes with BEVEL

devil, level, Neville, revel

²bevel

noun

: a slanted surface or edge on a piece of wood, glass, etc.

: a tool that is used to make a slanted surface or edge on a piece of wood, glass, etc.

Full Definition of BEVEL

: an instrument consisting of two rules or arms jointed together and opening to any angle for drawing angles or adjusting surfaces to be cut at an angle

a : the angle that one surface or line makes with another when they are not at right angles

b : the slant of such a surface or line

: the part of printing type extending from face to shoulder

See bevel defined for English-language learners

See bevel defined for kids

Illustration of BEVEL

Origin of BEVEL

Middle French *bevel, from Old French *baivel, from baïf with open mouth, from baer to yawn — more at abeyance

First Known Use: 1610

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

Rhymes with BEVEL

devil, level, Neville, revel

³bevel

verb

: to cut or shape (a surface or edge) at an angle or slant

beveled or bevelledbevel·ing or bevel·ling \ˈbev-liŋ, ˈbe-və-\

Full Definition of BEVEL

transitive verb

: to cut or shape to a bevel

intransitive verb

: incline, slant

See bevel defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of BEVEL

1677

BEVEL Defined for Kids

¹bevel

noun bev·el \ˈbe-vəl\

Definition of BEVEL for Kids

: a slant or slope of one surface or line against another

Word History of BEVEL

At first the word bevel was used for a certain kind of angle. This was the angle formed by two surfaces that are not at right angles. Look at the opening of such an angle. You may be able to imagine that it looks like an open mouth. The English word bevel came from an Old French word baïf that meant “with open mouth.” This word was formed from the Old French verb baer, “to yawn.”