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ed 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.…

Absence of depth or of duskiness in color; as, the lightness of a tint; lightness of complexion.

Load line, or Load water line (Naut.), the line on the outside of a vessel indicating the depth to which it sinks in the water when loaded.

An instrument for measuring the water that percolates through a certain depth of soil. Knight.

n. Maroon lake, lake prepared from madder, and distinguished for its transparency and the depth and durability of its color.

the perpendicular height or length of, with an idea of measurement; as, the water, or the depth of water, was over his head, over his shoes.

d files close and deep. There were several different arrangements, the phalanx varying in depth from four to twenty-five or more ranks of men. "In cubic phalanx firm advanced." Milton. The Grecian phalanx, moveless as a tower. Pope.

An adjustable staff formerly attached to the plow beam to determine the depth of the furrow. Piers Plowman.

To sound with a plumb or plummet, as the depth of water; hence, to examine by test; to ascertain the depth, quality, dimension, etc.; to sound; to fathom; to test. He did not attempt to plumb his intellect. Ld. Lytton.

A piece of lead attached to a line, used in sounding the depth of water. I'll sink him deeper than e'er plummet sounded. Shak.

nd some other igneous rocks, supposed to have consolidated from a melted state at a great depth from the surface. Cf. Intrusive rocks, under Intrusive. -- Plutonic theory. (Geol.) See Plutonism.

An instrument for examining the depth or other circumstances of a wound, ulcer, or cavity, or the direction of a sinus, of for exploring for bullets, for stones in the bladder, etc. Parr. Probe, or Probe-pointed, scissors (Surg.), scissors used to open wounds, the blade of which, to be thrust into the orifice, has a bu…

Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a great depth; deep. "A gulf profound." Milton.

The quality or state of being profound; profundity; depth. Hooker.

The quality or state of being profound; depth of place, knowledge, feeling, etc. "The vast profundity obscure." Milton.

n gray is not the morning's eye, 'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow. Shak. On the depths of death there swims The reflex of a human face. Tennyson.

flections which have arisen in my mind. Burke. An intellectual cultivation of no moderate depth or scope. Hawthorne.

Not deep; having little depth; shoal. "Shallow brooks, and rivers wide." Milton.

Having a moderate depth of hold; -- said of a vessel.

Having little depth; shallow; as, shoal water.