dado

C2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /ˈdeɪdoʊ/ UK /ˈdeɪdəʊ/ See IPA manual

Freq #46804

Meanings

1

noun
the lower part of an interior wall when it is decorated or finished differently from the area above it

A painted dado ran around the dining room beneath the patterned wallpaper.
2

noun
a rectangular groove cut across a board to receive the edge of another piece

The carpenter cut a dado across each side panel to support the shelf.
3

noun
the blocklike middle section of a pedestal, between its base and upper molding

The sculptor's name was carved into the dado of the pedestal.
4

verb
to cut a dado in a piece of wood or join wood by means of one

The cabinetmaker dadoed the uprights before fitting the shelves.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the lower part of an... wainscot wainscoting

2 noun · a rectangular groove cut... housingdado joint

3 noun · the blocklike middle... die

4 verb · to cut a dado in a piece of... groove house

Word family

Derived forms dadoeddadoing

Related forms dado railpedestalrabbetjoinery

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian dado ("die; plinth"). The architectural term first named the blocklike central part of a pedestal and then the similarly proportioned lower section of an interior wall.

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# dado

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈdeɪdoʊ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdeɪdəʊ/
**Frequency rank:** 46804

## Meanings
1. the lower part of an interior wall when it is decorated or finished differently from the area above it
2. a rectangular groove cut across a board to receive the edge of another piece
3. the blocklike middle section of a pedestal, between its base and upper molding
4. to cut a dado in a piece of wood or join wood by means of one

## Examples
- A painted dado ran around the dining room beneath the patterned wallpaper.
- The carpenter cut a dado across each side panel to support the shelf.
- The sculptor's name was carved into the dado of the pedestal.
- The cabinetmaker dadoed the uprights before fitting the shelves.

## Synonyms
- wainscot
- wainscoting
- housing
- dado joint

## Derived Forms
- dadoed
- dadoing

## Related Forms
- dado rail
- pedestal
- rabbet
- joinery

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian dado ("die; plinth"). The architectural term first named the blocklike central part of a pedestal and then the similarly proportioned lower section of an interior wall.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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