bevel

[ bev-uhl ]

See synonyms for: bevel beveled beveling bevelled on Thesaurus.com

noun

the inclination that one line or surface makes with another when not at right angles.
a surface that does not form a right angle with adjacent surfaces.: Compare chamfer.

(of a lock bolt) the oblique end that hits the strike plate.
(of a lock with a beveled bolt) the side facing in the same direction as the bevel at the end of the bolt.: Compare regular bevel, reverse bevel.
bevel square.
an adjustable instrument for drawing angles or adjusting the surface of work to a particular inclination.
Printing. beard (def. 5).

verb (used with or without object),bev·eled, bev·el·ing or (especially British) bev·elled, bev·el·ling.

to cut or slant at a bevel: to bevel an edge to prevent splintering.

adjective

Also beveled; especially British, bevelled. oblique; sloping; slanted.

Origin of bevel

First recorded in 1555–65; from unattested Middle French bevel (French béveau, biveau ), unattested Old French baivel, equivalent to baïf “with open mouth” (ba(er) “to gape” (see bay²) + -if adjective suffix) + -el, from Latin -ellus noun suffix; see -ive, -elle

Other words from bevel

bev·el·er; especially British, bev·el·ler, noun
un·bev·eled; especially British, un·bev·elled, adjective
un·der·bev·el·ing; especially British, un·der·bev·el·ling, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bevel in a sentence

Knock the four corners down, bevelling them as shown in the sketch, and trim the end off rounding for the head.
The Library of Work and Play: Working in Metals | Charles Conrad Sleffel
The bevelling of the curves at the ends was the only new feature of the knife work.
Carpentry and Woodwork | Edwin W. Foster
This looks well and saves the need of bevelling the edges of the roof-boards.
Woodworking for Beginners | Charles Gardner Wheeler
The most difficult part is the bevelling of the joints (see Bevelling).
Woodworking for Beginners | Charles Gardner Wheeler
The ends of these last pieces should properly be bevelled (see Bevelling) to make a fairly tight joint.
Woodworking for Beginners | Charles Gardner Wheeler

British Dictionary definitions for bevel

bevel

/ (ˈbɛvəl) /

noun

- Also called: cant a surface that meets another at an angle other than a right angle: Compare chamfer (def. 1)
- (as modifier): a bevel edge; bevel square

verb-els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

(intr) to be inclined; slope
(tr) to cut a bevel on (a piece of timber, etc)

Origin of bevel

C16: from Old French bevel (unattested), from baïf, from baer to gape; see bay 1

Derived forms of bevel

bevelled or US beveled, adjective
beveller or US beveler, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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