dovetail.
The tail of a dove (family Columbidae); also, something having the shape of a dove's tail.
Meaning & usage
The tail of a dove (family Columbidae); also, something having the shape of a dove's tail.
In full dovetail joint: a type of joint where adjoining components are fastened by multiple tenons cut into wedge shapes resembling a dove's tail, which interlock with mortises having corresponding shapes.
A tenon cut into a wedge shape resembling a dove's tail so that it interlocks with a mortise having a corresponding shape in a dovetail joint.
A line resembling a dovetail joint (sense 2.1).
Where this word comes from
The noun is derived from dove + tail. The verb is derived from the noun.
To unite (components) with a dovetail (noun sense 2.1) or similar joint.
To combine or fit (things) together well.
The executive board dovetailed its decision neatly with the prior projects the company had taken up.
Through my new project, I dovetail my interests in botany and programming.
To interweave (a number of algorithms or subprograms) so that they can be run more or less simultaneously.
To seamlessly move a melody from one instrument to another.
Of several things: to combine or fit together well.
The parts of your essay should dovetail so that it is cohesive and coherent.
To adapt to something; to fit in.
Where this word comes from
The noun is derived from dove + tail. The verb is derived from the noun.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.