miter
Americannoun
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the official headdress of a bishop in the Western Church, in its modern form a tall cap with a top deeply cleft crosswise, the outline of the front and back resembling that of a pointed arch.
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the office or rank of a bishop; bishopric.
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Judaism. the official headdress of the ancient high priest, bearing on the front a gold plate engraved with the words Holiness to the Lord.
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a fillet worn by women of ancient Greece.
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Carpentry. an oblique surface formed on a piece of wood or the like so as to butt against an oblique surface on another piece to be joined with it.
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Nautical. the inclined seam connecting the two cloths of an angulated sail.
verb (used with object)
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to bestow a miter upon, or raise to a rank entitled to it.
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to join with a miter joint.
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to cut to a miter.
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to join (two edges of fabric) at a corner by various methods of folding, cutting, and stitching.
noun
Etymology
Origin of miter
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mitre, from Latin mitra, from Greek mítra “turban, headdress”
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.
By 08:30, archbishops and bishops will gather in the Constantine Wing, adjacent to the basilica, wearing liturgical clothes including simple white miter.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2025
Using your miter saw or miter box, cut your molding pieces with 45-degree angled edges, which allows them to fit together into the final box shape.
From Seattle Times • May 12, 2023
The curvy, glossy emerald green cabinet, which Preciado built and painted at Jose Auto Body Shop in Boyle Heights to mimic the look and feel of a lowrider, was modeled after a pope’s miter.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2022
He’s the sort who stops to admire an original newel post or a carpenter’s miter work from 200 years ago.
From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2021
“For the miter saw. I brought a generator, too, so we can get power to these tools. Given any thought yet to electricity for your house?”
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
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.
