bevel

plural bevels

1. An edge that is canted, one that is not a 90-degree angle; a chamfer.

   to give a bevel to the edge of a table or a stone slab

   1 more example

   I added a bevel all around the bottom to reduce the visual mass a bit. A lot of MCM furniture uses tricks like this to appear lighter.

   2026 August 28, Collin Knoff, “Mid-Century Modern Table”, in Popular Woodworking, volume 290, number 4, page 50

2. An instrument consisting of two rules or arms, jointed together at one end, and opening to any angle, for adjusting the surfaces of work to the same or a given inclination; a bevel square.

   finding the length with a bevel

   1832, Edward Shaw, Civil Architecture

3. gamblingA die used for cheating, having some sides slightly rounded instead of flat.

   The different types of dice made for cheating (flat passers, bevels, cut edges, loaded dice, […]

   1974, The New York Times Book Review, volume 2, page 35

   1 more example

   Bevels are shapes having one or more sides sandpapered so that they are slightly rounded rather than flat.

   1978, John Scarne, Scarne's Guide to Casino Gambling, page 176

present singular third person bevels · US participle present beveling · UK participle present bevelling · US participle past beveled · US past beveled · UK participle past bevelled · UK past bevelled

1. transitiveTo give a canted edge to a surface; to chamfer.

comparative more bevel · superlative most bevel

1. Having the slant of a bevel; slanting.

   a bevel angle

2. figurativelyobsoleteMorally distorted; not upright.

   I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel.

   1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 121”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC

plural Bevels

1. A surname.