dowels

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Plural of dowel: short, round rods of wood, plastic or metal used to join pieces of wood or hold things in place.

   Grammar: Plural; the singular is dowel.

   Patterns

   • use dowels

   He glued wooden dowels into the holes to join the two boards.

   The shelf is held up by metal dowels.

   Dowels were used to align the panels perfectly.

2. 2nounplural

   Long, thin round rods sold for crafts, such as hanging fabric or making models.

   Grammar: Plural: wooden dowels from a craft store.

   Patterns

   • wooden dowels

   She bought dowels to build a model bridge.

   The curtain was hung on two thin dowels.

Common combinations

wooden dowels

The cabinet used wooden dowels.

drill holes for dowels

Drill holes for the dowels first.

glue the dowels

Glue the dowels before clamping.

fluted dowels

Fluted dowels grip glue better.

insert the dowels

Insert the dowels gently.

Synonyms and how they differ

pegs

Larger, often decorative pins, not always rods.

pins

Thin and often metal, used to fasten or hold.

rods

General cylindrical lengths, not specifically joining.

spindles

Turned rods in furniture such as stairs.

Word family

dowel noun

a single rod

doweling noun

the material or process

dowelled adjective

joined with dowels

Commonly confused: dowels or doweled?

Practice

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