Miter word meaning and definition

[noun] a liturgical headdress worn by bishops on formal occasions
[verb] fit together in a miter joint
[verb] bevel the edges of, to make a miter joint
[verb] confer a miter on, as of a bishop

\Mi"ter\, Mitre \Mi"tre\, n. [F. mitre, fr. L. mitra headband, turban, Gr. ?.] 1. A covering for the head, worn on solemn occasions by church dignitaries. It has been made in many forms, the present form being a lofty cap with two points or peaks. --Fairholt. 2. The surface forming the beveled end or edge of a piece where a miter joint is made; also, a joint formed or a junction effected by two beveled ends or edges; a miter joint. 3. (Numis.) A sort of base money or coin. {Miter box} (Carp. & Print.), an apparatus for guiding a handsaw at the proper angle in making a miter joint; esp., a wooden or metal trough with vertical kerfs in its upright sides, for guides. {Miter dovetail} (Carp.), a kind of dovetail for a miter joint in which there is only one joint line visible, and that at the angle. {Miter gauge} (Carp.), a gauge for determining the angle of a miter. {Miter joint}, a joint formed by pieces matched and united upon a line bisecting the angle of junction, as by the beveled ends of two pieces of molding or brass rule, etc. The term is used especially when the pieces form a right angle. See {Miter}, 2. {Miter shell} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of marine univalve shells of the genus {Mitra}. {Miter square} (Carp.), a bevel with an immovable arm at an angle of 45[deg], for striking lines on stuff to be mitered; also, a square with an arm adjustable to any angle. {Miter wheels}, a pair of bevel gears, of equal diameter, adapted for working together, usually with their axes at right angles.
\Mi"ter\, Mitre \Mi"tre\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mitered}or {Mitred}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mitering}or {Mitring}.] 1. To place a miter upon; to adorn with a miter. ``Mitered locks.'' --Milton. 2. To match together, as two pieces of molding or brass rule on a line bisecting the angle of junction; to bevel the ends or edges of, for the purpose of matching together at an angle.
\Mi"ter\, Mitre \Mi"tre\, v. i. To meet and match together, as two pieces of molding, on a line bisecting the angle of junction.

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