miter

[ mahy-ter ]

noun

1. 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.
2. the office or rank of a bishop; bishopric.
3. Judaism. the official headdress of the ancient high priest, bearing on the front a gold plate engraved with the words Holiness to the Lord. Exodus 28:36–38.
4. a fillet worn by women of ancient Greece.
5. 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.
6. Nautical. the inclined seam connecting the two cloths of an angulated sail.

verb (used with object)

1. to bestow a miter upon, or raise to a rank entitled to it.
2. to join with a miter joint.
3. to cut to a miter.
4. to join (two edges of fabric) at a corner by various methods of folding, cutting, and stitching.

miter

/ ˈmaɪtə /

noun

1. See mitre
   the usual US spelling of mitre

Word History and Origins

Origin of miter¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mitre, from Latin mitra, from Greek mítra “turban, headdress”

Example Sentences

The next most important adjustment on your table saw is aligning the blade and fence to the miter slot to ensure that you’re getting square rip cuts as well as bevels.

From Popular-Science

Press the flat of the square to the edge of the miter slot, and then extend the ruler until it touches one of the teeth of the blade on the infeed side.

From Popular-Science

Saint Nicholas — usually with a long beard, a bishop’s miter and a staff — tells the children they are about to be judged.

From Washington Post

Thankfully, many brands have simplified the process and it’s easy to pick the right miter saw for your next build.

From Popular-Science

Then was seen on the altar a miter glittering with precious stones, and a large sword ornamented with fleur-de-lis.

From Project Gutenberg

If both are of the same diameter, they are called bevel gears; if of different diameters, miter gears.

From Project Gutenberg

Before he can start to open a lock gate, he must first have released the miter-forcing machine that latches the gates.

From Project Gutenberg

Ghullam removed his miter and his false beard, tossing them aside on a table, then undid his sash and peeled out of his robe.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the regular priests pulled off his miter and beard and went to the radio, putting on a headset.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• administrator
• cleric
• director
• patriarch
• pontiff
• pope
• prelate
• priest