Level vs. Flat — What's the Difference?

A horizontal plane or line with respect to the distance above or below a given point

Having a level surface; without raised areas or indentations

A position on a scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality

Lacking emotion; dull and lifeless

(in a video game) each of a series of stages of increasing difficulty through which a player may progress, completing one stage in order to reach the next

(of a sparkling drink) having lost its effervescence

An instrument marked with a line parallel to the plane of the horizon for testing whether things are horizontal.

(of a fee, wage, or price) the same in all cases, not varying with changed conditions or in particular cases

A flat tract of land

(of musical sound) below true or normal pitch.

Having a flat, horizontal surface

Relating to flat racing

At the same height as someone or something else

In or to a horizontal position

Having the same relative position; not in front of or behind

Completely; absolutely

Calm and steady

Below the true or normal pitch of musical sound

Give a flat and even surface to

The flat part of something

Begin to fly horizontally after climbing or diving

An upright section of stage scenery mounted on a movable frame.

Make (something, especially a score in sport) equal or similar

A flat tyre

Aim (a weapon)

Flat racing.

Be frank or honest with (someone)

A musical note lowered a semitone below natural pitch.

Ascertain differences in the height of (land).

A set of rooms forming an individual residence, typically on one floor and within a larger building containing a number of such residences.

Relative position or rank on a scale

Lower (a note) by a semitone

A relative degree, as of achievement, intensity, or concentration

Make flat; flatten

A natural or proper position, place, or stage

Live in or share a flat

Position along a vertical axis; height or depth

Having a smooth, even surface

A horizontal line or plane at right angles to the plumb.

Having a relatively broad level surface in relation to thickness or depth

The position or height of such a line or plane.

Being in horizontal position; lying down

A flat, horizontal surface.

Being without slope or curvature

A land area of uniform elevation.

Having a low heel or no heel

An instrument for ascertaining whether a surface is horizontal, vertical, or at a 45° angle, consisting essentially of an encased, liquid-filled tube containing an air bubble that moves to a center window when the instrument is set on an even plane. Also called spirit level.

Free of qualification; absolute

Such a device combined with a telescope and used in surveying.

Fixed; unvarying

A computation of the difference in elevation between two points by using such a device.

Lacking interest or excitement; dull

Having a flat, smooth surface

Lacking in flavor

Being on a horizontal plane

Having lost effervescence or sparkle

Being at the same height or position as another; even.

Deflated. Used of a tire.

Being at the same degree of rank, standing, or advantage as another; equal.

Electrically discharged. Used of a storage battery.

Being or relating to a specified rank or standing. Often used in combination

Of or relating to a horizontal line that displays no ups or downs and signifies the absence of physiological activity

Exhibiting no abrupt variations; steady

Of or relating to a hierarchy with relatively few tiers or levels

Rational and balanced; sensible

Commercially inactive; sluggish

Filled evenly to the top

Unmodulated; monotonous

To make horizontal, flat, or even

Lacking variety in tint or shading; uniform

To place on the same rank; equalize.

Not glossy; matte

To tear down (a building, for example); raze.

Being below the correct pitch.

To knock down, as with a blow; lay low

Being one half step lower than the corresponding natural key

To aim along a horizontal plane

Designating the vowel a as pronounced in bad or cat.

To direct emphatically or forcefully toward someone

(Nautical) Taut. Used of a sail.

To measure the different elevations of (a tract of land) with a level.

(Informal) Having small breasts.

To bring persons or things to an equal level; equalize.

Level with the ground; horizontally.

To aim a weapon horizontally.

On or up against a flat surface; at full length.

(Informal) To be frank and open

So as to be flat.

Along a flat or even line or plane.

Directly; completely

The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.

Exactly; precisely

At the same height as some reference; constructed as level with.

(Music) Below the intended pitch.

Unvaried in frequency.

(Business) Without interest charge.

Unvaried in volume.

A flat surface or part.

Calm.

Often flats A stretch of level ground

In the same position or rank.

A shallow frame or box for seeds or seedlings.

Straightforward; direct; clear.

A movable section of stage scenery, usually consisting of a wooden frame and a decorated panel of wood or cloth.

Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial.

A flatcar.

(phonetics) Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection; monotonic.

A deflated tire.

(physics) Perpendicular to a gravitational force.

A shoe with a flat heel.

A tool for finding whether a surface is level, or for creating a horizontal or vertical line of reference.

A large flat piece of mail.

A distance relative to a given reference elevation.

A horse that competes in a flat race. Also called runner.

Degree or amount.

A sign (♭) used to indicate that a note is to be lowered by a semitone.

Achievement or qualification.

A note that is lowered a semitone.

(computer science) Distance from the root node of a tree structure.

(Football) The area of the field to either side of an offensive formation.

(video games) One of several discrete segments of a game, generally increasing in difficulty and representing different locations in the game world.

An apartment on one floor of a building.

A numeric value that quantifies a character, ability, or item's experience and power.

(Archaic) A story in a house.

A floor of a multi-storey building.

To make flat; flatten.

(British) An area of almost perfectly flat land.

(Music) To lower (a note) a semitone.

A school grade or year.

To sing or play below the proper pitch.

To adjust so as to make as flat or perpendicular to the ground as possible.

Having no variations in height.

To destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze.

In a horizontal line or plane; not sloping.

To progress to the next level.

Smooth; having no protrusions, indentations or other surface irregularities, or relatively so.

To aim or direct (a weapon, a stare, an accusation, etc).

(slang) Having small or invisible breasts and/or buttocks.

To direct or impose (a penalty, fine, etc) at or upon (someone).

Without variation in level, quantity, value, tone etc.

(sports) To make the score of a game equal.

At a consistently depressed level; consistently lacklustre.

(figurative) To bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.

Of fees, fares etc., fixed; unvarying.

To adjust or adapt to a certain level.

Without variations in pitch.

To speak honestly and openly with.

(of colours) Without variation in tone or hue (uniform), and dull (not glossy).

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.

(figurative) Lacking liveliness or action; depressed; uninteresting; dull and boring.

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.

Lacking in depth, substance, or believability; underdeveloped; one-dimensional.

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.

Lowered by one semitone.

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

(music) Of a note or voice, lower in pitch than it should be.

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.

Absolute; downright; peremptory.

An instrument by which to find a horizontal line, or adjust something with reference to a horizontal line.

(of a tire or other inflated object) Deflated, especially because of a puncture.

A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine.

(of a carbonated drink) With all or most of its carbon dioxide having come out of solution so that the drink no longer fizzes or contains any bubbles.

Even; flat; having no part higher than another; having, or conforming to, the curvature which belongs to the undisturbed liquid parts of the earth's surface; as, a level field; level ground; the level surface of a pond or lake.

(wine) Lacking acidity without being sweet.

Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal; as, the telescope is now level.

(of a battery) Unable to emit power; dead.

Even with anything else; of the same height; on the same line or plane; on the same footing; of equal importance; - followed by with, sometimes by to.

Without spin; spinless.

Straightforward; direct; clear; open.

Sonant; vocal, as distinguished from a sharp (non-sonant) consonant.

Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level head; a level understanding. [Colloq.]

(grammar) Not having an inflectional ending or sign, such as a noun used as an adjective, or an adjective as an adverb, without the addition of a formative suffix; or an infinitive without the sign "to".

Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection.

Having a head at a very obtuse angle to the shaft.

To make level; to make horizontal; to bring to the condition of a level line or surface; hence, to make flat or even; as, to level a road, a walk, or a garden.

Flattening at the ends.

To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce to a flat surface; to lower.

(of measurements of time) Exact.

To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in taking aim; to aim; to direct.

So as to be flat.

Figuratively, to bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.; as, to level all the ranks and conditions of men.

Bluntly.

To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level remarks to the capacity of children.

(of accurately measured timings) Exactly, precisely.

To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit.

Used to emphasize the smallness of the measurement.

To aim a gun, spear, etc., horizontally; hence, to aim or point a weapon in direct line with the mark; fig., to direct the eye, mind, or effort, directly to an object; as, he leveled a gun at the bandit and fired.

Completely.

A position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality;

Directly; flatly.

A relative position or degree of value in a graded group;

Without allowance for accrued interest.

A specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process;

An area of level ground (sometimes covered with water).

Height above ground;

(in the phrase 'the flat') Level ground in general.

Indicator that establishes the horizontal when a bubble is centered in a tube of liquid

Level horse-racing ground, as contrasted with courses incorporating jumps, or the racing done on such ground.

A flat surface at right angles to a plumb line;

The area in the centre of a racecourse.

Structure consisting of a room or set of rooms comprising a single level of a multilevel building;

(music) A note played a semitone lower than a natural, denoted by the symbol ♭ placed after the letter representing the note (e.g., B♭) or in front of the note symbol (e.g. ♭♪).

An abstract place usually conceived as having depth;

A flat tyre/flat tire.

Aim at;

(in the plural) A type of ladies' shoe with a very low heel.

Tear down so as to make flat with the ground;

(in the plural) A type of flat-soled running shoe without spikes.

Make level or straight;

(painting) A thin, broad brush used in oil and watercolour painting.

Direct into a position for use;

The flat part of something:

Talk frankly with; lay it on the line;

(swordfighting) The flat side of a blade, as opposed to the sharp edge.

Become level or even;

The palm of the hand, with the adjacent part of the fingers.

Having a horizontal surface in which no part is higher or lower than another;

A wide, shallow container or pallet.

Not showing abrupt variations;

(mail) A large mail piece measuring at least 8 1/2 by 11 inches, such as catalogs, magazines, and unfolded paper enclosed in large envelopes.

Being on a precise horizontal plane;

A railroad car without a roof, and whose body is a platform without sides; a platform car or flatcar.

Oriented at right angles to the plumb;

A flat-bottomed boat, without keel, and of small draught.

Of the score in a contest;

(geometry) A subset of n-dimensional space that is congruent to a Euclidean space of lower dimension.

A straw hat, broad-brimmed and low-crowned.

A flat sheet for use on a bed.

(publishing) A flat, glossy children's book with few pages.

A platform on a wheel, upon which emblematic designs etc. are carried in processions.

(mining) A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal.

(technical, theatre, stagecraft) A rectangular wooden structure covered with masonite, lauan, or muslin, often produced in standard modules, that is used to build wall surfaces on stage. Flats can be painted and outfitted with doors and/or windows to depict a building or other part of a scene. It's a hard-surfaced alternative to a backcloth orbackdrop.

(entomology) Any of various hesperiid butterflies that spread their wings open when they land.

(historical) An early kind of toy soldier having a flat design.

(obsolete) A dull fellow; a simpleton.

(optics) A flat (i.e. plane) mirror

A cheater's die with the edges shaved to make certain rolls more likely.

An apartment, usually on one level and usually consisting of more than one room.

(poker slang) To make a flat call; to call without raising.

(intransitive) To become flat or flattened; to sink or fall to an even surface.

To fall from the pitch.

To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.

To make flat; to flatten; to level.

To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress.

To beat or strike; pound

(transitive) To dash or throw

(intransitive) To dash, rush

Having an even and horizontal surface, or nearly so, without prominences or depressions; level without inclination; plane.

Lying at full length, or spread out, upon the ground; level with the ground or earth; prostrate; as, to lie flat on the ground; hence, fallen; laid low; ruined; destroyed.

Wanting relief; destitute of variety; without points of prominence and striking interest.

Tasteless; stale; vapid; insipid; dead; as, fruit or drink flat to the taste.

Unanimated; dull; uninteresting; without point or spirit; monotonous; as, a flat speech or composition.

Lacking liveliness of commercial exchange and dealings; depressed; dull; as, the market is flat.

Clear; unmistakable; peremptory; absolute; positive; downright.

Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat.

Sonant; vocal; - applied to any one of the sonant or vocal consonants, as distinguished from a nonsonant (or sharp) consonant.

Having a head at a very obtuse angle to the shaft; - said of a club.

Not having an inflectional ending or sign, as a noun used as an adjective, or an adjective as an adverb, without the addition of a formative suffix, or an infinitive without the sign to. Many flat adverbs, as in run fast, buy cheap, are from AS. adverbs in -ë, the loss of this ending having made them like the adjectives. Some having forms in ly, such as exceeding, wonderful, true, are now archaic.

Flattening at the ends; - said of certain fruits.

In a flat manner; directly; flatly.

Without allowance for accrued interest.

A level surface, without elevation, relief, or prominences; an extended plain; specifically, in the United States, a level tract along the along the banks of a river; as, the Mohawk Flats.

A level tract lying at little depth below the surface of water, or alternately covered and left bare by the tide; a shoal; a shallow; a strand.

Something broad and flat in form

The flat part, or side, of anything; as, the broad side of a blade, as distinguished from its edge.

A floor, loft, or story in a building;

A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal.

A dull fellow; a simpleton; a numskull.

A character [$] before a note, indicating a tone which is a half step or semitone lower.

A homaloid space or extension.

To make flat; to flatten; to level.

To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress.

To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.

To become flat, or flattened; to sink or fall to an even surface.

To fall form the pitch.

A level tract of land

A shallow box in which seedlings are started

A musical notation indicating one half step lower than the note named

Freight car without permanent sides or roof

A deflated pneumatic tire

Scenery consisting of a wooden frame covered with painted canvas; part of a stage setting

A suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

Having a horizontal surface in which no part is higher or lower than another;

Having no depth or thickness

Not modified or restricted by reservations;

Stretched out and lying at full length along the ground;

Lacking contrast or shading between tones

Lowered in pitch by one chromatic semitone;

Flattened laterally along the whole length (e.g., certain leafstalks or flatfishes)

Lacking taste or flavor or tang;

Lacking stimulating characteristics; uninteresting;

Having lost effervescence;

Not increasing as the amount taxed increases

Not made with leavening;

Parallel to the ground;

Without pleats

Lacking the expected range or depth; not designed to give an illusion or depth;

(of a tire) completely or partially deflated

Not reflecting light; not glossy;

Lacking variety in shading;

At full length;

With flat sails;

Below the proper pitch;

Against a flat surface;

In a forthright manner; candidly or frankly;

Wholly or completely;