dovetail

1 of 2

noun

dove·​tail ˈdəv-ˌtāl 

: something resembling a dove's tail

especially : a flaring tenon and a mortise into which it fits tightly making an interlocking joint between two pieces (as of wood)

Illustration of dovetail

• 1 mortises
• 2 tenons
• 3 joint

dovetail

2 of 2

verb

dovetailed; dovetailing; dovetails

transitive verb

1

a

: to join by means of dovetails

b

: to cut to a dovetail

2

a

: to fit skillfully to form a whole

b

: to fit together with

intransitive verb

: to fit together into a whole

Synonyms

Verb

• accord
• agree
• answer
• check
• chord
• cohere
• coincide
• comport
• conform
• consist
• correspond
• fit
• go
• harmonize
• jibe
• rhyme
• rime
• sort
• square
• tally

Examples of dovetail in a Sentence

Verb

the Union and the Confederate accounts of the battle don't dovetail at all

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The passive dovetails nicely with another of Hazard’s abilities, Jagged Wall. —Kris Holt, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Might the convention trade dovetail nicely in a city with attractions ranging from Fort McHenry to playoff-qualifying NFL and MLB teams? —Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2024

Verb

New Capabilities This dovetails with the new technological capabilities that are coming onstream. —Trevor Clawson, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

The affair dovetails so nicely with Robert’s paranoias. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1573, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

dovetail

1 of 2 noun

dove·​tail -ˌtāl 

: something shaped like a dove's tail

especially : a joint between two pieces (as of wood) formed by a wedge-shaped part that fits tightly into a wedge-shaped slot in the other piece

dovetail

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to join by means of dovetails

b

: to cut to a dovetail

2

: to fit skillfully together to form a whole