Definitions of line [ɪn]

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Definition of 'line'

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

1. (n.) line
a long mark of very slight breadth, made with a pen, pencil, tool, etc., on a surface.

2.  line
a continuous extent of length, straight or curved, without breadth or thickness; the trace of a moving point.

3.  line
something arranged along a line, esp. a straight line; a row:
a line of trees.

4.  line
a number of persons standing one behind the other and waiting their turns at or for something; queue.

5.  line
something resembling a traced line, as a seam or furrow:
lines of stratification in rock.

6.  line
a furrow or wrinkle on the face, neck, etc.

7.  line
an indication of demarcation; boundary; limit:
the county line; a fine line between right and wrong.

8.  line
a row of written or printed letters, words, etc.

9.  line
a unit in the metrical structure of a poem or lyric, composed of feet.

10.  line
Usu., lines. the words of an actor's part in a drama, musical comedy, etc.

11.  line
a short written message:
Drop me a line when you're on vacation.

12.  line
a system of public conveyances, as buses or trains, plying regularly over a fixed route.

13.  line
a transportation company:
a steamship line.

14.  line
a course of direction; route:
the line of march.

15.  line
a course of action, procedure, thought, policy, etc.:
That newspaper follows a conservative line.

16.  line
a piece of pertinent or useful information:
I've got a line on a good used car.

17.  line
a series of generations of persons, animals, or plants descended from a common ancestor:
a line of kings.

18.  line
a person's occupation or business:
What line are you in?

19.  line
Informal. a mode of conversation intended to impress or influence:
He handed us a line about his rich relatives.

20.  line
outline or contour:
a ship of fine lines.

21.  line
lines,

22.  line
a plan of construction, action, or procedure:
two books written along the same lines.

23.  line
Chiefly Brit. a certificate of marriage.

24.  line
a circle of the terrestrial or celestial sphere:
the equinoctial line.

25.  line
Art.

26.  line
a mark made by a pencil, brush, or the like, that defines the contour of a shape, forms hatching, etc.

27.  line
the edge of a shape.

28.  line
a telephone connection:
Please hold the line.

29.  line
a wire circuit connecting two or more pieces of electric apparatus, esp. the circuit connecting points or stations in a telegraph or telephone system or the system itself.

30.  line
a stock of goods of the same general class but having a range of styles, sizes, prices, or quality.

31.  line
an assembly line.

32.  line
Law. a limit defining one estate from another; the outline or boundary of a piece of real estate.

33.  line
( in bridge) a line on a score sheet below which points are scored toward game and above which bonus points are scored.

34.  line
Music. any of the straight, horizontal, parallel strokes of the staff, or one placed above or below the staff.

35.  line
a series of fortifications:
the Maginot line.

36.  line
Often, lines. a distribution of troops, ships, etc., arranged for defense or drawn up for battle:
behind enemy lines.

37.  line
the combatant forces of an army or navy, or their officers.

38.  line
a body or formation of troops or ships drawn up abreast

39.  line
that part of an administrative organization consisting of persons actively engaged on a given project.

40.  line
a thread, string, cord, rope, etc.

41.  line
a clothesline.

42.  line
a cord, wire, etc., used for measuring or as a guide.

43.  line
a pipe or hose:
a steam line.

44.  line
a rope or cable used at sea.

45.  line
Slang. a small quantity of cocaine arranged in the form of a slender thread, as for sniffing.

46.  line
a cord or string with a hook, sinker, float, etc., for catching fish.

47.  line
either of the two front rows of opposing football players lined up opposite each other on the line of scrimmage.

48.  line
the betting odds established by bookmakers for events not covered by pari-mutuel betting, esp. sporting events, as football or basketball.

49.  line
the two wings and center that comprise an ice hockey team's offensive unit.

50. (v.i.) line
to take a position in a line; range (often fol. by up).

51.  line
Baseball.

52.  line
to hit a line drive.

53.  line
to line out.

54. (v.t.) line
to bring into a line, or into line with others (often fol. by up):
to line up troops.

55.  line
to mark with a line or lines.

56.  line
to form a line along:
Rocks lined the drive.

57.  line
to apply liner to (the eyes).

58.  line
to delineate with or as if with lines; draw:
to line a silhouette.

59.  line
line out,

60.  line
Baseball. to be put out by hitting a line drive caught on the fly by a player of the opposing team.

61.  line
Informal. to execute or perform:
to line out a song.

62.  line
line up, to secure; make available.

63.  line
in every way; thoroughly.

64.  line
in the future.

65.  line
to impart information directly and frankly.

66.  line
occurring or functioning away from the central work location, as an assembly line.

67.  line
not in operation; not functioning.

68.  line
not actively linked to a computer or central computer.

69.  line
on or part of an assembly line.

70.  line
in or into operation.

71.  line
actively linked to a computer.

72.  line
in a vulnerable position.

73.  line
during the transaction; immediately:
to pay cash on the line.

74.  line
not in a straight line.

75.  line
disrespectful; presumptuous.

76. (v.t.) line
to cover the inner side or surface of:
to line a coat with blue silk.

77.  line
to cover:
Bookcases lined the walls.

78.  line
to furnish or fill:
to line shelves with provisions.

79.  line
to reinforce (the back of a book) with glued fabric, paper, vellum, etc.

Etymology: (1350–1400; ME lynen, der. of line linen, flax, OE līn < L līnum flax)

Definition of 'line'

Princeton's WordNet

1. (noun) line
a formation of people or things one beside another
"the line of soldiers advanced with their bayonets fixed"; "they were arrayed in line of battle"; "the cast stood in line for the curtain call"

2. (noun) line
a mark that is long relative to its width
"He drew a line on the chart"

3. (noun) line
a formation of people or things one behind another
"the line stretched clear around the corner"; "you must wait in a long line at the checkout counter"

4. (noun) line
a length (straight or curved) without breadth or thickness; the trace of a moving point

5. (noun) line
text consisting of a row of words written across a page or computer screen
"the letter consisted of three short lines"; "there are six lines in every stanza"

6. (noun) line
a single frequency (or very narrow band) of radiation in a spectrum

7. (noun) line
a fortified position (especially one marking the most forward position of troops)
"they attacked the enemy's line"

8. (noun) argumentation, logical argument, argument, line of reasoning, line
a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the methodical process of logical reasoning
"I can't follow your line of reasoning"

9. (noun) cable, line, transmission line
a conductor for transmitting electrical or optical signals or electric power

10. (noun) course, line
a connected series of events or actions or developments
"the government took a firm course"; "historians can only point out those lines for which evidence is available"

11. (noun) line
a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent

12. (noun) wrinkle, furrow, crease, crinkle, seam, line
a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface
"his face has many lines"; "ironing gets rid of most wrinkles"

13. (noun) pipeline, line
a pipe used to transport liquids or gases
"a pipeline runs from the wells to the seaport"

14. (noun) line, railway line, rail line
the road consisting of railroad track and roadbed

15. (noun) telephone line, phone line, telephone circuit, subscriber line, line
a telephone connection

16. (noun) line
acting in conformity
"in line with"; "he got out of line"; "toe the line"

17. (noun) lineage, line, line of descent, descent, bloodline, blood line, blood, pedigree, ancestry, origin, parentage, stemma, stock
the descendants of one individual
"his entire lineage has been warriors"

18. (noun) line
something (as a cord or rope) that is long and thin and flexible
"a washing line"

19. (noun) occupation, business, job, line of work, line
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
"he's not in my line of business"

20. (noun) line
in games or sports; a mark indicating positions or bounds of the playing area

21. (noun) channel, communication channel, line
(often plural) a means of communication or access
"it must go through official channels"; "lines of communication were set up between the two firms"

22. (noun) line, product line, line of products, line of merchandise, business line, line of business
a particular kind of product or merchandise
"a nice line of shoes"

23. (noun) line
a commercial organization serving as a common carrier

24. (noun) agate line, line
space for one line of print (one column wide and 1/14 inch deep) used to measure advertising

25. (noun) credit line, line of credit, bank line, line, personal credit line, personal line of credit
the maximum credit that a customer is allowed

26. (noun) tune, melody, air, strain, melodic line, line, melodic phrase
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
"she was humming an air from Beethoven"

27. (noun) line
persuasive but insincere talk that is usually intended to deceive or impress
"`let me show you my etchings' is a rather worn line"; "he has a smooth line but I didn't fall for it"; "that salesman must have practiced his fast line of talk"

28. (noun) note, short letter, line, billet
a short personal letter
"drop me a line when you get there"

29. (noun) line, dividing line, demarcation, contrast
a conceptual separation or distinction
"there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity"

30. (verb) production line, assembly line, line
mechanical system in a factory whereby an article is conveyed through sites at which successive operations are performed on it

31. (verb) line, run along
be in line with; form a line along
"trees line the riverbank"

32. (verb) line
cover the interior of
"line the gloves"; "line a chimney"

33. (verb) trace, draw, line, describe, delineate
make a mark or lines on a surface
"draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand"

34. (verb) line
mark with lines
"sorrow had lined his face"

35. (verb) line
fill plentifully
"line one's pockets"

36. (verb) line
reinforce with fabric
"lined books are more enduring"

Definition of 'line'

Kernerman English Learner’s Dictionary

1. (noun) line
a long thin mark
Draw a line from each word to the correct picture.; Write on the lines.; red lines on her face from the pillow

2.  line
a row of people waiting
people standing in line to get into the theater; Is this the line for the checkout?

3.  line
a row of people or things
Stand in a line against the wall.; a line of trees along the driveway

4.  line
a long thin piece of string, wire, etc.
a washing line

5.  line
a row of words
Read from the fourth line to the bottom of the page.

6.  line
lines
the words an actor learns
I kept forgetting my lines.

7.  line
a telephone connection
a good/bad line

8.  line
on the line
on the telephone
Mr. Fredericks is on the line for you.

9.  line
one set of railroad tracks or one section of a railroad system
an obstruction on the line; the West Coast line

10.  line
a border or boundary
to cross the state line

11.  line
a limit or boundary between one thing and another

12.  line
cross the line
to do sth beyond a limit
I think you crossed the line with that comment about his mother.

13.  line
a fine line
when the limit is difficult to define
There's a fine line between genius and madness.

14.  line
the direction of a movement
He was so drunk he couldn't walk in a straight line.

15.  line
along the lines of
like or similar to
She said something along the lines of '"go away and leave me alone."

16.  line
down/along the line
in the future
a mistake that will cause problems somewhere down the line

17.  line
in line for
about to receive or experience
People say he's in line for several awards this year.; Is Britain in line for a housing crisis?

18.  line
on the line
in danger of being ended or badly damaged
Her job could be on the line.; a man with his reputation on the line

19.  line
in line with
matching or agreeing with
company profits that were not in line with their expectations

20. (verb) line
to form a line along the edge of sth
trees lining the avenue

21.  line
to put a layer of sth on the inside of sth
Line the box with paper.; a jacket lined with red silk

Definition of 'line'

Webster Dictionary

1. (noun) line
flax; linen

2. (noun) line
the longer and finer fiber of flax

3. (noun) line
a linen thread or string; a slender, strong cord; also, a cord of any thickness; a rope; a hawser; as, a fishing line; a line for snaring birds; a clothesline; a towline

4. (noun) line
a more or less threadlike mark of pen, pencil, or graver; any long mark; as, a chalk line

5. (noun) line
the course followed by anything in motion; hence, a road or route; as, the arrow descended in a curved line; the place is remote from lines of travel

6. (noun) line
direction; as, the line of sight or vision

7. (noun) line
a row of letters, words, etc., written or printed; esp., a row of words extending across a page or column

8. (noun) line
a short letter; a note; as, a line from a friend

9. (noun) line
a verse, or the words which form a certain number of feet, according to the measure

10. (noun) line
course of conduct, thought, occupation, or policy; method of argument; department of industry, trade, or intellectual activity

11. (noun) line
that which has length, but not breadth or thickness

12. (noun) line
the exterior limit of a figure, plat, or territory; boundary; contour; outline

13. (noun) line
a threadlike crease marking the face or the hand; hence, characteristic mark

14. (noun) line
lineament; feature; figure

15. (noun) line
a straight row; a continued series or rank; as, a line of houses, or of soldiers; a line of barriers

16. (noun) line
a series or succession of ancestors or descendants of a given person; a family or race; as, the ascending or descending line; the line of descent; the male line; a line of kings

17. (noun) line
a connected series of public conveyances, and hence, an established arrangement for forwarding merchandise, etc.; as, a line of stages; an express line

18. (noun) line
a circle of latitude or of longitude, as represented on a map

19. (noun) line
the equator; -- usually called the line, or equinoctial line; as, to cross the line

20. (noun) line
a long tape, or a narrow ribbon of steel, etc., marked with subdivisions, as feet and inches, for measuring; a tapeline

21. (noun) line
a measuring line or cord

22. (noun) line
that which was measured by a line, as a field or any piece of land set apart; hence, allotted place of abode

23. (noun) line
instruction; doctrine

24. (noun) line
the proper relative position or adjustment of parts, not as to design or proportion, but with reference to smooth working; as, the engine is in line or out of line

25. (noun) line
the track and roadbed of a railway; railroad

26. (noun) line
a row of men who are abreast of one another, whether side by side or some distance apart; -- opposed to column

27. (noun) line
the regular infantry of an army, as distinguished from militia, guards, volunteer corps, cavalry, artillery, etc

28. (noun) line
a trench or rampart

29. (noun) line
dispositions made to cover extended positions, and presenting a front in but one direction to an enemy

30. (noun) line
form of a vessel as shown by the outlines of vertical, horizontal, and oblique sections

31. (noun) line
one of the straight horizontal and parallel prolonged strokes on and between which the notes are placed

32. (noun) line
a number of shares taken by a jobber

33. (noun) line
a series of various qualities and values of the same general class of articles; as, a full line of hosiery; a line of merinos, etc

34. (noun) line
the wire connecting one telegraphic station with another, or the whole of a system of telegraph wires under one management and name

35. (noun) line
the reins with which a horse is guided by his driver

36. (noun) line
a measure of length; one twelfth of an inch

37. (verb) line
to cover the inner surface of; as, to line a cloak with silk or fur; to line a box with paper or tin

38. (verb) line
to put something in the inside of; to fill; to supply, as a purse with money

39. (verb) line
to place persons or things along the side of for security or defense; to strengthen by adding anything; to fortify; as, to line works with soldiers

40. (verb) line
to impregnate; -- applied to brute animals

41. (verb) line
to mark with a line or lines; to cover with lines; as, to line a copy book

42. (verb) line
to represent by lines; to delineate; to portray

43. (verb) line
to read or repeat line by line; as, to line out a hymn

44. (verb) line
to form into a line; to align; as, to line troops

Translation of 'line'

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

Sense: (a piece of) thread, cord, rope etc She hung the washing on the line; a fishing-rod and line.
Afrikaans: lyn, waslyn, vislyn	Arabic: حَبْل	Bulgarian: въже
Brazilian: linha	Czech: šňůra; nit; vlasec	German: die Leine
Danish: snor; line	Greek: κλωστή, σπάγγος, σκοινί,	Spanish: cuerda, cordel, sedal
Estonian: nöör	Farsi: طناب؛ نخ	Finnish: naru
French: corde, ligne	Hebrew: חוּט, חֶבֶל	Hindi: लाइन, रेखा
Croatian: uže, špaga	Hungarian: zsinór	Indonesian: tali
Icelandic: lína; snúra, band	Italian: corda, filo	Japanese: ひも
Korean: 실, 끈, 밧줄	Lithuanian: virvė, valas	Latvian: aukla; virve
Malay: tali	Dutch: lijn	Norwegian: snor, line, ledning
Polish: sznur,żyłka	Persian: طناب؛ نخ	Pashto: پړى،تناو،ريشمه
Portuguese: linha	Romanian: frânghie; fir	Russian: шнур, верёвка, леска
Slovak: šnúra; niť; vlasec	Slovenian: vrv	Serbian: konopac
Swedish: lina	Thai: เชือก	Turkish: ip, sicim, kordon, tel, o
Taiwanese: 繩，線	Ukrainian: шнур; лінь	Urdu: کپڑے سکھانے کی رسی یا تار
Vietnamese: dây	Chinese: 绳索等
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