1. To combine or correspond closely so the parts work well together.
2. A joint using flared projections fitted into matching recesses.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- dovetail with plans
- dovetail neatly
On the page
Their accounts dovetail on every important detail.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- dovetail
- Past tense
- dovetailed
- Past participle
- dovetailed
- Present participle
- dovetailing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- dovetail
- Present continuous
- am/is/are dovetailing
- Present perfect
- have/has dovetailed
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been dovetailing
- Past
- dovetailed
- Past continuous
- was/were dovetailing
- Past perfect
- had dovetailed
- Past perfect continuous
- had been dovetailing
- Future
- will dovetail
- Future continuous
- will be dovetailing
- Future perfect
- will have dovetailed
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been dovetailing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: dovetail; dovetails; dovetailed; dovetailed; dovetailing. Noun singular dovetail; plural dovetails. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: description, character, dialogue. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: dovetails.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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