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 ballooning national debt dovetails with persistent inflation and dwindling excess savings for consumers and small businesses alike—both issues that Dimon believes the global institutions have been lackadaisical about addressing. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 21 May 2024

And this year, the dates for Marrakech (Nov. 24-Dec. 2) and Red Sea (Nov. 30-Dec. 9) dovetail. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 27 Nov. 2023

Verb

Although not overtly political, McCloud’s work has dovetailed with growing concerns about climate change, in particular, the deployment of disposable plastic bags in his paintings. —Robin Pogrebin, New York Times, 2 June 2024

Now, Officer Willis’ department in this town of 30,000 people about an hour’s drive outside Atlanta is at the front of that debate – experimenting with how new policies aimed at addressing race and class disparities can dovetail to produce a more effective force. —Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 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