[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

level \lev"el\ le^v"e^l, n. oe. level, livel, of. livel,
   f. niveau, fr. l. libella level, water level, a plumb level,
   dim. of libra pound, measure for liquids, balance, water
   poise, level. cf. librate, libella.
   1. a line or surface to which, at every point, a vertical or
      plumb line is perpendicular; a line or surface which is
      everywhere parallel to the surface of still water; -- this
      is the true level, and is a curve or surface in which all
      points are equally distant from the center of the earth,
      or rather would be so if the earth were an exact sphere.
      1913 webster

   2. a horizontal line or plane; that is, a straight line or a
      plane which is tangent to a true level at a given point
      and hence parallel to the horizon at that point; -- this
      is the apparent level at the given point.
      1913 webster

   3. an approximately horizontal line or surface at a certain
      degree of altitude, or distance from the center of the
      earth; as, to climb from the level of the coast to the
      level of the plateau and then descend to the level of the
      valley or of the sea.
      1913 webster

            after draining of the level in northamptonshire.
                                                  --sir m. hale.
      1913 webster

            shot from the deadly level of a gun.  --shak.
      1913 webster

   4. hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard,
      degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one
      of several planes of different elevation.
      1913 webster

            providence, for the most part, sets us on a level.
                                                  --addison.
      1913 webster

            somebody there of his own level.      --swift.
      1913 webster

            be the fair level of thy actions laid
            as temperance wills and prudence may persuade.
                                                  --prior.
      1913 webster

   5. a uniform or average height; a normal plane or altitude; a
      condition conformable to natural law or which will secure
      a level surface; as, moving fluids seek a level.
      1913 webster

            when merit shall find its level.      --f. w.
                                                  robertson.
      1913 webster

   6. mech.  surv.
      a an instrument by which to find a horizontal line, or
          adjust something with reference to a horizontal line.
      b a measurement of the difference of altitude of two
          points, by means of a level; as, to take a level.
          1913 webster

   7. a horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine.
      1913 webster

   air level, a spirit level. see spirit level below.

   box level, a spirit level in which a glass-covered box is
      used instead of a tube.

   carpenter's level, mason's level, either the plumb level
      or a straight bar of wood, in which is imbedded a small
      spirit level.

   level of the sea, the imaginary level from which heights
      and depths are calculated, taken at a mean distance
      between high and low water.

   line of levels, a connected series of measurements, by
      means of a level, along a given line, as of a railroad, to
      ascertain the profile of the ground.

   plumb level, one in which a horizontal bar is placed in
      true position by means of a plumb line, to which it is at
      right angles.

   spirit level, one in which the adjustment to the horizon is
      shown by the position of a bubble in alcohol or ether
      contained in a nearly horizontal glass tube, or a circular
      box with a glass cover.

   surveyor's level, a telescope, with a spirit level
      attached, and with suitable screws, etc., for accurate
      adjustment, the whole mounted on a tripod, for use in
      leveling; -- called also leveling instrument.

   water level, an instrument to show the level by means of
      the surface of water in a trough, or in upright tubes
      connected by a pipe.
      1913 webster
see also:
librate libella air level a spirit level spirit level box level 
carpenter's level mason's level level of the sea line of levels plumb level 
surveyor's level leveling instrument water level 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

spirit \spir"it\, n. of. espirit, esperit, f. esprit, l.
   spiritus, from spirare to breathe, to blow. cf. conspire,
   expire, esprit, sprite.
   1. air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes,
      life itself. obs. "all of spirit would deprive."
      --spenser.
      1913 webster

            the mild air, with season moderate,
            gently attempered, and disposed eo well,
            that still it breathed foorth sweet spirit.
                                                  --spenser.
      1913 webster

   2. a rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a
      mark to denote aspiration; a breathing. obs.
      1913 webster

            be it a letter or spirit, we have great use for it.
                                                  --b. jonson.
      1913 webster

   3. life, or living substance, considered independently of
      corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart
      from any physical organization or embodiment; vital
      essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.
      1913 webster

   4. the intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the
      soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides;
      the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions,
      whether spiritual or material.
      1913 webster

            there is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the
            almighty giveth them understanding.   --job xxxii.
                                                  8.
      1913 webster

            as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
            without works is dead also.           --james ii.
                                                  26.
      1913 webster

            spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing,
            doubting, and a power of moving, do subsist.
                                                  --locke.
      1913 webster

   5. specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it
      has left the body.
      1913 webster

            then shall the dust return to the earth as it was,
            and the spirit shall return unto god who gave it.
                                                  --eccl. xii.
                                                  7.
      1913 webster

            ye gentle spirits far away,
            with whom we shared the cup of grace. --keble.
      1913 webster

   6. any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a
      specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an
      elf.
      1913 webster

            whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all
            impressions of spirits and goblins in the dark.
                                                  --locke.
      1913 webster

   7. energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc.
      1913 webster

            "write it then, quickly," replied bede; and
            summoning all his spirits together, like the last
            blaze of a candle going out, he indited it, and
            expired.                              --fuller.
      1913 webster

   8. one who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great
      activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper;
      as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit.
      1913 webster

            such spirits as he desired to please, such would i
            choose for my judges.                 --dryden.
      1913 webster

   9. temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or
      disposition; intellectual or moral state; -- often in the
      plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be
      downhearted, or in bad spirits.
      1913 webster

            god has . . . made a spirit of building succeed a
            spirit of pulling down.               --south.
      1913 webster

            a perfect judge will read each work of wit
            with the same spirit that its author writ. --pope.
      1913 webster

   10. intent; real meaning; -- opposed to the letter, or to
       formal statement; also, characteristic quality,
       especially such as is derived from the individual genius
       or the personal character; as, the spirit of an
       enterprise, of a document, or the like.
       1913 webster

   11. tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed
       of active qualities.
       1913 webster

             all bodies have spirits . . . within them. --bacon.
       1913 webster

   12. any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol,
       the spirits, or spirit, of wine it having been first
       distilled from wine: -- often in the plural.
       1913 webster

   13. pl. rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors
       having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt
       liquors.
       1913 webster

   14. med. a solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. cf.
       tincture. --u. s. disp.
       1913 webster

   15. alchemy any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal
       ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic or, according to some,
       orpiment.
       1913 webster

             the four spirits and the bodies seven. --chaucer.
       1913 webster

   16. dyeing stannic chloride. see under stannic.
       1913 webster

   note: spirit is sometimes joined with other words, forming
         compounds, generally of obvious signification; as,
         spirit-moving, spirit-searching, spirit-stirring, etc.
         1913 webster

   astral spirits, familiar spirits, etc. see under
      astral, familiar, etc.

   animal spirits.
       a physiol. the fluid which at one time was supposed
           to circulate through the nerves and was regarded as
           the agent of sensation and motion; -- called also the
           nervous fluid, or nervous principle.
       b physical health and energy; frolicsomeness;
           sportiveness.

   ardent spirits, strong alcoholic liquors, as brandy, rum,
      whisky, etc., obtained by distillation.

   holy spirit, or the spirit theol., the spirit of god,
      or the third person of the trinity; the holy ghost. the
      spirit also signifies the human spirit as influenced or
      animated by the divine spirit.

   proof spirit. chem. see under proof.

   rectified spirit chem., spirit rendered purer or more
      concentrated by redistillation, so as to increase the
      percentage of absolute alcohol.

   spirit butterfly zool., any one of numerous species of
      delicate butterflies of tropical america belonging to the
      genus ithomia. the wings are gauzy and nearly destitute
      of scales.

   spirit duck. zool.
       a the buffle-headed duck.
       b the golden-eye.

   spirit lamp art, a lamp in which alcohol or methylated
      spirit is burned.

   spirit level. see under level.

   spirit of hartshorn. old chem. see under hartshorn.

   spirit of mindererus med., an aqueous solution of acetate
      of ammonium; -- named after r. minderer, physician of
      augsburg.

   spirit of nitrous ether med. chem., a pale yellow liquid,
      of a sweetish taste and a pleasant ethereal odor. it is
      obtained by the distillation of alcohol with nitric and
      sulphuric acids, and consists essentially of ethyl nitrite
      with a little acetic aldehyde. it is used as a
      diaphoretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, etc. called also
      sweet spirit of niter.

   spirit of salt chem., hydrochloric acid; -- so called
      because obtained from salt and sulphuric acid. obs.

   spirit of sense, the utmost refinement of sensation. obs.
      --shak.

   spirits of turpentine, or spirit of turpentine chem.,
      rectified oil of turpentine, a transparent, colorless,
      volatile, and very inflammable liquid, distilled from the
      turpentine of the various species of pine; camphine. it is
      commonly used to remove paint from surfaces, or to dissole
      oil-based paint. see camphine.

   spirit of vitriol chem., sulphuric acid; -- so called
      because formerly obtained by the distillation of green
      vitriol. obs.

   spirit of vitriolic ether chem. ethyl ether; -- often but
      incorrectly called sulphuric ether. see ether. obs.
      

   spirits of wine, or spirit of wine chem., alcohol; --
      so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of
      wine.

   spirit rapper, one who practices spirit rapping; a "medium"
      so called.

   spirit rapping, an alleged form of communication with the
      spirits of the dead by raps. see spiritualism, 3.

   sweet spirit of niter. see spirit of nitrous ether,
      above.
      1913 webster

   syn: life; ardor; energy; fire; courage; animatioon;
        cheerfulness; vivacity; enterprise.
        1913 webster
see also:
conspire expire esprit sprite tincture stannic 
astral spirits familiar spirits astral familiar animal spirits 
nervous fluid nervous principle ardent spirits holy spirit the spirit 
proof spirit proof rectified spirit spirit butterfly ithomia 
spirit duck spirit lamp spirit level level spirit of hartshorn 
hartshorn spirit of mindererus spirit of nitrous ether sweet spirit of niter spirit of salt 
spirit of sense spirits of turpentine spirit of turpentine camphine spirit of vitriol 
spirit of vitriolic ether sulphuric ether ether spirits of wine spirit of wine 
spirit rapper spirit rapping spiritualism sweet spirit of niter 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

spirit level
     n : indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is
         centered in a tube of liquid syn: level
see also:
level 

Level >> L Words
Level, definition of term: Level
level_pag1.html

Level Crossing >> L Words
Level Crossing, definition of term: Level Crossing
level+crossing_pag1.html

Level Off >> L Words
Level Off, definition of term: Level Off
level+off_pag1.html

Holy Spirit >> H Words
Holy Spirit, definition of term: Holy Spirit
holy+spirit_pag1.html

Free Spirit >> F Words
Free Spirit, definition of term: Free Spirit
free+spirit_pag1.html

Familiar Spirit >> F Words
Familiar Spirit, definition of term: Familiar Spirit
familiar+spirit_pag1.html