miter
miter Lexical Profile
miter Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A joint made between two pieces of wood or other material at an angle, typically 90 degrees, such that the line of junction bisects the angle.
"The carpenter used a precise miter to create seamless corners for the custom picture frame."
American A tall, deeply cleft headdress worn by bishops and senior abbots in various Christian traditions as a symbol of office.
"The bishop placed the ornate miter upon his head before proceeding down the aisle."
• verb
American To join or fit two pieces of material together at an angled junction, typically to form a right angle.
"She carefully mitered the edges of the baseboards so they would meet perfectly in the corner of the room."
American To confer a miter upon a cleric, thereby raising them to the rank of bishop.
"He was mitered in a grand ceremony attended by dignitaries from across the diocese."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, the word is typically spelled 'miter', whereas British and Commonwealth English strongly prefer the spelling 'mitre' for both the liturgical headdress and the woodworking joint.
• Rhymes for miter
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'mitre', from Old French, from Latin 'mitra' (headband or turban), originating from Ancient Greek 'mítrā'. The woodworking term derives from the joint's structural resemblance to the peaked liturgical hat.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.