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Definition of "dowel" [dow•el]

  • A usually round pin that fits tightly into a corresponding hole to fasten or align two adjacent pieces. (noun)
  • A piece of wood driven into a wall to act as an anchor for nails. (noun)
  • To fasten or align with dowels: table legs that are doweled to the top. (verb-transitive)
  • To equip with dowels. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "dowel" in a sentence
  • "I use a 4 foot long, 1 inch hardwood dowel from the hardware store."
  • "Opening dough with a dowel is harder than it looks."
  • "Turned pins are left on the shaft and the base, and these are secured at the joint by the use of a double-pointed screw called a dowel screw."