dado

1 of 2

noun

da·​do ˈdā-(ˌ)dō 

plural dadoes

1

a

: the part of a pedestal of a column above the base

b

: the lower part of an interior wall when specially decorated or faced

also : the decoration adorning this part of a wall

2

: a rectangular groove cut to make a joint in woodworking

specifically : one cut across the grain

Illustration of dado

• 1 surbase
• 2 dado
• 3 base

dado

2 of 2

verb

dadoed; dadoing

transitive verb

1

: to provide with a dado

2

a

: to set into a groove

b

: to cut a dado in (something, such as a plank)

Examples of dado in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 15-amp motor (3,600 RPM) is strong enough to saw through dado or other thick materials, and it’s got a T-square, three-point locking rip fence for even easier cutting. —Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2023

Next, mill a dado near the bottom edge of each side piece that will accept the bottom. —Paul Steiner, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023

The box needed a bunch of rabbets, which are two-sided channels milled into the edge of a board (a dado is similar but has three sides). —Paul Steiner, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023

Start by cutting the dados and rabbets slightly too narrow and testing the fit. —David Kaleko, Popular Science, 27 Jan. 2020

Cut the notches with a dado blade in the table saw, or lay out each notch and use a jigsaw to remove the waste. —Rick Peters, Popular Mechanics, 1 May 2016

Mark the positions of compartment dividers across the width of the bin walls, and cut the dadoes in them. —Roy Berendson, Popular Mechanics, 21 Mar. 2018

Clean up the bottom of each dado with a 1/4-inch chisel. —Roy Berendson, Popular Mechanics, 21 Mar. 2018

Verb

Photo: dado ruvic/Reuters Political wagers remain a small part of the £14.4 billion U.K. gambling industry, which is dominated by people having a flutter on sports like soccer and horse-racing. —Avantika Chilkoti, WSJ, 24 Dec. 2018

Photo: dado ruvic/Reuters That happened shortly after Italy’s new populist government spooked investors with plans to allow more government spending, which could trigger a clash with other governments, notably Germany’s. —Daniel Kruger, WSJ, 6 June 2018

Photo: dado ruvic/Reuters In March, Mastercard joined with International Business Machines Corp. IBM -0.30% to set up an external trust that will hold and anonymize the data, so Mastercard has no ability to reidentify individuals from it. —Natalia Drozdiak, WSJ, 24 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian, die, plinth

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dado

noun

da·​do

ˈdād-ō

plural dadoes

: the part of a pedestal of a column above the base