dovetail
Americannoun
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a tenon broader at its end than at its base; pin.
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a joint formed of one or more such tenons fitting tightly within corresponding mortises.
verb (used with or without object)
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Carpentry. to join or fit together by means of a dovetail or dovetails.
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to join or fit together compactly or harmoniously.
noun
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a wedge-shaped tenon
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Also called: dovetail joint. a joint containing such tenons
verb
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(tr) to join by means of dovetails
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to fit or cause to fit together closely or neatly
he dovetailed his arguments to the desired conclusion
Other Word Forms
- dovetailer noun
Etymology
Origin of dovetail
First recorded in 1555–65; so named from its shape
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Broderick, himself a sometime movie star, brings a slyly funny air of noblesse oblige that dovetails amusingly with Jay’s pompous, blinkered dimness.
In the last few seasons, that maturity on the court has dovetailed with a growing leadership role off it.
From Los Angeles Times
The standout performance of telecommunications stocks dovetails with broader momentum for value plays.
From MarketWatch
Similar events worldwide have dovetailed with the narrative landscape of the musical, which centers on the dictator’s wife, Imelda Marcos, her rise to power and her fall from grace.
From Los Angeles Times
Mager: I think the idea kind of dovetails in with the theme of the movie, which is these kids are looking for answers.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
