View synonyms for line

line

[lahyn]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a mark or stroke long in proportion to its breadth, made with a pen, pencil, tool, etc., on a surface.
a line down the middle of the page.
Mathematics., a continuous extent of length, straight or curved, without breadth or thickness; the trace of a moving point.
something arranged along a line, especially a straight line; a row or series.
a line of trees.
a number of persons standing one behind the other and waiting their turns at or for something; queue.
something resembling a traced line, as a band of color, a seam, or a furrow.
lines of stratification in rock.
a furrow or wrinkle on the face, neck, etc..
lines around the eyes.
an indication of demarcation; boundary; limit.
the county line; a fine line between right and wrong.
a row of written or printed letters, words, etc..
a page of 30 lines.
a verse of poetry.
A line in iambic pentameter contains five feet.
Usually lines. the words of an actor's part in a drama, musical comedy, etc..
to rehearse one's lines.
a short written message.
Drop me a line when you're on vacation.
a system of public conveyances, as buses or trains, plying regularly over a fixed route.
the northbound line at State Street.
a transportation or conveyance company.
a steamship line.
a course of direction; route.
the line of march down Main Street.
a course of action, procedure, thought, policy, etc..
That newspaper follows the communist line.
a piece of pertinent or useful information (usually followed byon ).
I've got a line on a good used car.
a series of generations of persons, animals, or plants descended from a common ancestor.
a line of kings.
a department of activity; occupation or business.
What line are you in?
Informal., a mode of conversation, especially one that is glib or exaggerated in order to impress or influence another person.
He really handed her a line about his rich relatives.
a straight line drawn from an observed object to the fovea of the eye.
lines,
1. the outer form or proportions of a ship, building, etc..
  a ship of fine lines.
2. a general form, as of an event or something that is made, which may be the basis of comparison, imitation, etc..
  two books written along the same lines.
3. a person's lot or portion.
  to endure the hard lines of poverty.
4. Chiefly British., a certificate of marriage.
a circle of the terrestrial or celestial sphere.
the equinoctial line.
banner.
Fine Arts.
1. a mark made by a pencil, brush, or the like, that defines the contour of a shape, forms hatching, etc.
2. the edge of a shape.
Television., one scanning line.
Telecommunications.
1. a telephone connection.
  Please hold the line.
2. a wire circuit connecting two or more pieces of electric apparatus, especially the wire or wires connecting points or stations in a telegraph or telephone system, or the system itself.
Geography., the line, the equator.
a stock of commercial goods of the same general class but having a range of styles, sizes, prices, or quality.
the company's line of shoes.
an assembly line.
Law., a limit defining one estate from another; the outline or boundary of a piece of real estate.
Bridge., a line on a score sheet that separates points scored toward game below the line from points scored by setting a contract, having honors, etc. above the line.
Music., any of the straight, horizontal, parallel strokes of the staff, or one placed above or below the staff.
Military.
1. a defensive position or front.
2. a series of fortifications.
  the Maginot line.
3. Usually lines. a distribution of troops, sentries, etc., for the defense of a position or for an attack.
  behind the enemy's lines.
4. the body of personnel constituting the combatant forces of an army, as distinguished from the supply services and staff corps.
an arrangement of troops of an army or of ships of a fleet as drawn up for battle.
line of battle.
a body or formation of troops or ships drawn up abreast (column ).
the class of officers serving with combatant units or warships.
the regular forces of an army or navy.
that part of an administrative organization consisting of persons actively engaged on a given project.
a thread, string, cord, rope, or the like.
a clothesline.
the wash hanging on the line.
a cord, wire, or the like, used for measuring or as a guide.
Nautical.
1. a pipe or hose.
  a steam line.
2. a rope or cable used at sea.
Slang., a small quantity of cocaine arranged in the form of a slender thread or line, as for sniffing.
Also a unit equal to 1/40 (0.025) inch (0.64 millimeter), for measuring the diameter of buttons.
Angling., a length of nylon, silk, linen, cord, or the like, to which are attached the leader, hook, sinker, float, etc.
Football.
1. either of the two front rows of opposing players lined up opposite each other on the line of scrimmage.
  a four-man line.
2. the line of scrimmage.
the betting odds established by bookmakers for events not covered by pari-mutuel betting, especially sporting events, as football or basketball.
Ice Hockey., the two wings and center who make up a team's offensive unit.
Fencing., any of the four divisions of the portion of a fencer's body on which a touch can be scored, taken as an area of attack or defense.
Textiles., the longer and preferred flax or hemp fibers.
Fox Hunting., the trail of scent left by a fox.
a unit of length equivalent to 1/12 (0.0833) inch (2.12 millimeters).
Insurance.
1. a class or type of insurance.
  casualty line.
2. the amount of insurance written for a particular risk.
Australian Slang., a girl or woman.

verb (used without object)

lined, lining

to take a position in a line; range (often followed byup ).
to line up before the start of a parade.
Baseball.
1. to hit a line drive.
2. to line out.

verb (used with object)

lined, lining

to bring into a line, or into line with others (often followed byup ).
to line up troops.
to mark with a line or lines.
to line paper for writing.
to sketch verbally or in writing; outline (often followed byout ).
We followed the plan he had lined out.
to arrange a line along.
to line a coast with colonies.
to form a line along.
Rocks lined the drive.
to apply eyeliner to (the eyes).
to delineate with or as if with lines; draw.
to line the silhouette of a person's head.
Archaic., to measure or test with a line.

verb phrase

line up, to secure; make available.
to line up support; to line up a speaker for the banquet.
line out
1. Baseball., to be put out by hitting a line drive caught on the fly by a player of the opposing team.
2. to execute or perform.
  He lined out a few songs upon request.

line

[lahyn]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

lined, lining

to cover the inner side or surface of.
to line the coat with blue silk.
to serve to cover.
Velvet draperies lined the walls of the room.
to furnish or fill.
to line shelves with provisions.
to reinforce the back of a painting or the spine of a book with glued fabric, paper, vellum, etc..
The spines were lined with long-fibered Japanese paper, extending partway over the front and back covers.

noun

a thickness of glue, as between two veneers in a sheet of plywood.

line

/ laɪn /

noun

a narrow continuous mark, as one made by a pencil, pen, or brush across a surface
such a mark cut into or raised from a surface
a thin indented mark or wrinkle
a straight or curved continuous trace having no breadth that is produced by a moving point
maths
1. any straight one-dimensional geometrical element whose identity is determined by two points. A line segment lies between any two points on a line
2. a set of points ( x, y ) that satisfies the equation y = mx + c, where m is the gradient and c is the intercept with the y -axis
a border or boundary
the county line
sport
1. a white or coloured band indicating a boundary or division on a field, track, etc
2. a mark or imaginary mark at which a race begins or ends
American football
1. See line of scrimmage
2. the players arranged in a row on either side of the line of scrimmage at the start of each play
a specified point of change or limit
the dividing line between sanity and madness
1. the edge or contour of a shape, as in sculpture or architecture, or a mark on a painting, drawing, etc, defining or suggesting this
2. the sum or type of such contours or marks, characteristic of a style or design
  the line of a draughtsman
  the line of a building
anything long, flexible, and thin, such as a wire or string
a washing line
a fishing line
a telephone connection
a direct line to New York
1. a conducting wire, cable, or circuit for making connections between pieces of electrical apparatus, such as a cable for electric-power transmission, telecommunications, etc
2. ( as modifier )
  the line voltage
a system of travel or transportation, esp over agreed routes
a shipping line
a company operating such a system
a route between two points on a railway
1. a railway track, including the roadbed, sleepers, etc
2. one of the rails of such a track
a roadway usually in a rural area
a course or direction of movement or advance
the line of flight of a bullet
a course or method of action, behaviour, etc
take a new line with him
a policy or prescribed course of action or way of thinking (often in the phrases bring or come into line )
a field of study, interest, occupation, trade, or profession
this book is in your line
alignment; true (esp in the phrases in line, out of line )
one kind of product or article
a nice line in hats
a collection of bales of wool all of the one type
a row of persons or things
a line of cakes on the conveyor belt
a chronological or ancestral series, esp of people
a line of prime ministers
a row of words printed or written across a page or column
a unit of verse consisting of the number of feet appropriate to the metre being used and written or printed with the words in a single row
a short letter; note
just a line to say thank you
a piece of useful information or hint about something
give me a line on his work
one of a number of narrow horizontal bands forming a television picture
physics a narrow band in an electromagnetic spectrum, resulting from a transition in an atom, ion, or molecule of a gas or plasma
music
1. any of the five horizontal marks that make up the stave Compare space
2. the musical part or melody notated on one such set
3. a discernible shape formed by sequences of notes or musical sounds
  a meandering melodic line
4. (in polyphonic music) a set of staves that are held together with a bracket or brace
a unit of magnetic flux equal to 1 maxwell
a defensive or fortified position, esp one that marks the most forward position in war or a national boundary
the front line
a formation adopted by a naval unit for manoeuvring
a formation adopted by a body or a number of military units when drawn up abreast
the combatant forces of certain armies and navies, excluding supporting arms
fencing one of four divisions of the target on a fencer's body, considered as areas to which specific attacks are made
the scent left by a fox
1. the equator (esp in the phrase crossing the line )
2. any circle or arc on the terrestrial or celestial sphere
the amount of insurance written by an underwriter for a particular risk
Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): queue. a line of people, vehicles, etc, waiting for something
slang, a portion of a powdered drug for snorting
slang, something said for effect, esp to solicit for money, sex, etc
he gave me his usual line
1. accounting denoting entries above a horizontal line on a profit and loss account, separating those that establish the profit or loss from those that show how the profit is distributed
2. denoting revenue transactions rather than capital transactions in a nation's accounts
3. marketing expenditure on media advertising through an agency, rather than internally arranged advertising, such as direct mail, free samples, etc
4. bridge denoting bonus points, marked above the horizontal line on the score card
1. accounting denoting entries below a horizontal line on a profit and loss account, separating those that establish the profit or loss from those that show how the profit is distributed
2. denoting capital transactions rather than revenue transactions in a nation's accounts
3. marketing denoting expenditure on advertising by other means than the traditional media, such as the provision of free gifts, special displays, direct mailshots, etc
4. bridge denoting points scored towards game and rubber, marked below the horizontal line on the score card
1. at every stage in a series
2. in every detail
informal, to associate (with a person of the opposite sex) regularly; go out (with)
he is doing a line with her
to reasonably object (to) or set a limit (on)
her father draws the line at her coming in after midnight
informal, to obtain information about
1. to keep a telephone line open
2. football to prevent the opponents from taking the ball forward
3. (of soldiers) to keep formation, as when under fire
in the running for; a candidate for
he's in line for a directorship
conforming to
as a necessary and usually undesired part of the performance of one's responsibilities
1. to pay money
2. to speak frankly and directly
3. to risk (one's career, reputation, etc) on something
informal, to try to create a false image, as by boasting or exaggerating
to fail to conform to expected standards, attitudes, etc
to conform to expected standards, attitudes, etc

verb

(tr) to mark with a line or lines
(tr) to draw or represent with a line or lines
(tr) to be or put as a border to
tulips lined the lawns
to place in or form a row, series, or alignment

line

/ laɪn /

verb

to attach an inside covering to (a garment, curtain, etc), as for protection, to hide the seaming, or so that it should hang well
to cover or fit the inside of
to line the walls with books
to fill plentifully
a purse lined with money
to reinforce the back of (a book) with fabric, paper, etc

line

A geometric figure formed by a point moving in a fixed direction and in the reverse direction. The intersection of two planes is a line.
◆ The part of a line that lies between two points on the line is called a line segment.

line

A set of points that have one dimension — length — but no width or height. (See coordinates.)

Discover More

Other Word Forms

linable adjective
lineable adjective
lineless adjective
linelike adjective
lined adjective
liny adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of line¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English li(g)ne “cord, rope, stroke, series, guiding rule,” partly from Old French ligne, ultimately from Latin līnea, noun use of feminine of līneus “flaxen” (originally applied to string), equivalent to līn(um) “flax” + -eus adjective suffix, and partly continuing Old English līne “string, row, series,” from Latin, as above; line ², -eous

Origin of line²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb linen, lyne(n), derivative of lin(e) “linen, flax,” Old English līn, from Latin līnum “flax (plant, thread, cloth)”

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of line¹

C13: partly from Old French ligne, ultimately from Latin līnea, n use of līneus flaxen, from līnum flax; partly from Old English līn, ultimately also from Latin līnum flax

Origin of line²

C14: ultimately from Latin līnum flax, since linings were often made of linen

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

cross the line, to go beyond accepted standards of behavior: Sometimes cross a boundary
His outburst crossed the line between heated argument and offensive vilification.
on a line, (of a batted or thrown ball) through the air in an approximately straight line from the point of impact or delivery.
hit on a line between third and short; thrown in on a line from the center fielder.
down the line,
1. in all ways; thoroughly; fully.
  It's a fine house right down the line—well-built, roomy, attractive.
2. in the future.
toe the line / mark,
1. to conform strictly to a rule, command, etc.
2. to shoulder responsibilities; do one's duty.
  He tried hard to toe the line on the new job.
lay it on the line,
1. to give money; pay.
2. to give the required information; speak directly or frankly.
  I'm going to stop being polite and lay it on the line.
read between the lines, to understand the unexpressed but implied meaning of something said or written.
Her letter sounded cheerful enough, but I read a certain sadness between the lines.
in line with, in agreement or conformity with.
The action taken was in line with her decision.
in the line of duty, in the execution of the duties belonging to some occupation, especially with regard to the responsibility for life and death: Also in line of duty.
a policeman wounded in the line of duty.
hold the line, to maintain the status quo, especially in order to forestall unfavorable developments.
We're trying to hold the line on prices.
draw the line, to impose a restriction; limit.
They might exaggerate but would draw the line at outright lying.
off line,
1. occurring or functioning away from an assembly line, work process, etc.
2. not in operation; not functioning.
bring / come / get into line,
1. to become or cause to become straight, as in a row.
  The members of the marching band got into line.
2. to conform or cause to conform or agree.
  They were persuaded to come into line with the party's policy.
out of line,
1. not in a straight line.
2. in disagreement with what is accepted or practiced.
3. Informal. impertinent; presumptuous.
  That last remark was out of line.
go up in one's lines, to forget one's part during a performance. Also go up on one's lines.
in line,
1. in alignment; straight.
2. in conformity or agreement.
3. in control (of one's conduct).
  to keep one's temper in line.
4. prepared; ready.
5. waiting one behind the other in a queue.
  There were eight people in line at the teller's window.
on line,
1. on or part of an assembly line.
  Production will be improved when the new welding equipment is on line.
2. in or into operation.
  The manufacturing facilities will be on line before November.
3. Computers. actively linked to a computer.
  The printer is not yet on line.
4. Chiefly New York City. line.
on the line,
1. being risked or put in jeopardy; in a vulnerable position.
  Our prestige and honor are on the line.
2. immediately; readily.
  paid cash on the line.
line one's pockets, to make much money, especially in an illegal or questionable way.

More idioms and phrases containing line

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Approximately 1,800 firefighters have been battling the blaze, some laying down sprinkler line to shoot water onto the hulking trees, which can grow beyond 300 feet tall.

From Los Angeles Times

“We’re all on the front lines of this worsening wildfire threat — and by joining our collective resources together, we will be even more effective in protecting our communities.”

From Los Angeles Times

Although, credit is due to the back line tonight, they were solid.

From BBC

Jones had announced she was training for the 2023 New York City Marathon in August of that year, then crossed the finish line on Nov. 5, 2023.

From Los Angeles Times

Indeed, the lines at the Oasis pop-up merch mart in Hollywood have been formidable, as fans rushed to commemorate the reunion they feared might never come.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

Discover More

When To Use

What is a basic definition of line?

A line is a mark or stroke that is longer than it is wide. A line is also a row of people or things or a number of people standing one in front of the other. The word line has many other senses as a noun and a verb.A simple line resembles an uppercase I or a lowercase L. In order to draw a line with a pencil, you would move the pencil from a starting point in one direction for a second or two and then stop. A line is a simple shape that we use for many purposes. Lines are usually assumed to be straight, and we use the term curve or curved line to refer to lines that are not straight.

Real-life examples: We paint lines on the roads and highways to separate lanes. Our English letters are made of lines and curves. Most notebook paper has lines on it. When signing a contract, you will write your name above or on a line.

Used in a sentence: I drew a red line on my paper.

The word line can also mean a row or a series of things organized in a straight line.

Real-life examples: Children like to knock over a line of dominoes. During drills, a sergeant might give orders to a line of soldiers. You will often see lines of trees along the road.

Used in a sentence: I drove slowly down the street to look at the line of the houses.

If you ever go to an amusement park, you are likely to see lines. People who are in a line are patiently waiting for their turn to do something. These kinds of lines have people stand one in front of the other rather than side to side.

Real-life examples: Banks, grocery stores, amusement parks, bars, movie theatres, and ticket booths may have very long lines.

Used in a sentence: I managed to be at the front of the line to buy tickets.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

lindy lineage

Browse