dow·el
ˈdau̇(-ə)l 
1
: a pin fitting into a hole in an abutting piece to prevent motion or slipping
also
: a round rod or stick used especially for cutting up into dowels
2
: a piece of wood driven into a wall so that other pieces can be nailed to it
Examples of dowel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 Jan. 2025
At night, Roberts’ mother frequently beat him with a dowel.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024
Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
Tie the other end of the string to a wooden stick or dowel.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022
See all Example Sentences for dowel 
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Noun
Shigeru Ban has experimented with wooden lattices, vaulting, curved planes, grids, and steel-free joinery using only pegs and dowels.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 Jan. 2025
At night, Roberts’ mother frequently beat him with a dowel.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024
Verb
What is the difference between a French rolling pin and dowel rolling pin?
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
Tie the other end of the string to a wooden stick or dowel.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022
See all Example Sentences for dowel
Dictionary Entries Near dowel
Cite this Entry
“Dowel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dowel. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dowel
1 of 2 noun
dow·el
ˈdau̇(-ə)l
: a pin or peg used for fastening together two pieces of wood
also
: a round rod or stick used especially for cutting up into dowels
dowel
2 of 2 verb
dowelled also doweled; dowelling also doweling
: to fasten by dowels
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