A
bevelled edge (UK) or
beveled edge (US) refers to an edge of a structure that is not perpendicular to the faces of the piece. The words
bevel and
chamfer overlap in usage; in general usage they are often interchanged, while in technical usage they may sometimes be differentiated as shown in the image at right. A bevel is typically used to soften the edge of a piece for the sake of safety, wear resistance, or
aesthetics; or to facilitate
mating with another piece.