Dovetails (plural noun) refer to joints in carpentry where two pieces, typically wood, interlock with angled surfaces to sustain a strong, precise connection. Metaphorically, to dovetail means to fit or harmonize two things smoothly. The term is common in woodworking and project planning, and it can also describe complementary elements that align well in a design or argument.
"The carpenter ensured the drawers closed perfectly by cutting precise dovetails."
"Her skills dovetail with his expertise, creating a seamless project workflow."
"The two narratives dovetail to form a coherent and compelling story."
"We’ll dovetail the budget with quarterly milestones to keep the plan aligned."
Dovetail derives from old carpentry terminology for a joint formed by projecting tenons (the tails) and corresponding sockets (the pins) that interlock like a dove’s tail. The expression likely originates from the shape of the dovetail joint’s tails, which flare outward and then taper inward, resembling a dove’s tail feather arrangement. The term evolved in English carpentry during the Middle Ages and became a standard phrase in woodworking for describing this precise, self-locking joint. The earliest attestations appear in technical manuals and carpentry treatises of the 16th–17th centuries as craftspeople documented standardized joint profiles for drawers, boxes, and cabinetry. Over time, dovetail has broadened metaphorically to describe any harmonious fit or seamless integration in systems and plans, preserving the original connotations of strength, accuracy, and aesthetic alignment.
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Words that rhyme with "Dovetails"
-ils sounds
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Pronounce as /ˈdoʊˌveɪˌtɛlz/ in US and UK English. The primary stress falls on the first syllable DO-, with a secondary emphasis on -VE- and a light -tails ending. Start with /doʊ/ (like 'dough'), move to /veɪ/ (like 'vay'), then /tɛlz/ (like 'tells' with a z). Audio examples: you can compare with Forvo or Pronounce resources for a native reference. Context: 'DOH-vay-ails' helps you keep the joint pronunciation crisp and clear.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress, pronouncing the second syllable too strongly, or blending /ˈdoʊveɪ/ into a single syllable like 'dov-elz.' Also, some speakers make the ending sound like 'tails' with a hard /z/ vs /lz/ cluster. Correct by: (1) maintaining primary stress on DO-, (2) clearly articulating /veɪ/ as a single nucleus, and (3) finishing with /tɛlz/ where the /l/ is light and the /z/ is voiced. Practice with slow clear enunciation and minimal pairs to stabilize the sequence.
In US English, /ˈdoʊˌveɪˌtɛlz/ places strong, rounded /oʊ/ and a crisp /t/; rhotic vowel influences may color surrounding vowels. In UK English, /ˈdəʊ.vˈeɪ.tɛlz/ often retains a more open /əʊ/ in the first syllable and a more clipped /t/ in non-rhotic contexts. Australian English tends toward /ˈdoʊ.veɜːlz/ or /ˈdɔː.veɪˌtɛlz/ with a broader vowel in the first syllable and a somewhat reduced final /lz/ blend. The key is controlling vowel quality and maintaining the /t/ as a clean alveolar stop across accents.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure with a sharp stress pattern and a final /lz/ cluster that can blur in fast speech. The second syllable /veɪ/ is a diphthong requiring precise tongue movement, while the final /tɛlz/ requires a light tongue contact for the /t/ and a voiced /z/ that can morph into /s/ in quick speech. Focusing on the three components—DO-, VEI-, and TELZ—helps reduce slurring in connected speech.
Do you pronounce the 'dove' syllable as /doʊ/ or as /dəʊ/? In standard American and many UK varieties, the first syllable is stressed and pronounced /doʊ/ (with a long O sound). However, rapid speech or certain regional accents can reduce it toward /dəʊ/ or even /dʌʊ/ if followed quickly by the /veɪ/ portion. For clear pronunciation, keep /doʊ/ with a prominent start and avoid collapsing the vowel under /d/.
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