line Hear it!

line¹ Definition

line (līn)

noun

    1. a cord, rope, wire, string, or the like
    2. a long, fine, strong cord with a hook, sinker, leader, etc. used in fishing
    3. a clothesline
    4. a cord, steel tape, etc. used in measuring or leveling
    5. a rope, hawser, or cable used on a ship
    6. a rein: usually used in pl.
  2. ☆
    1. a wire or wires connecting a telephone or telegraph system
    2. a system of such wires
    3. effective contact between telephones
    4. a telephone extension call me on line 9
  3. any wire, pipe, system of pipes or wires, etc. for conducting water, gas, electricity, etc.
  4. a very thin, threadlike mark; specif.,
    1. a long, thin mark made by a pencil, pen, chalk, etc.
    2. a similar mark cut in a hard surface, as by engraving
    3. a thin crease in the palm or on the face
  5. a mark made on the ground in certain sports; specif.,
    1. any of the straight, narrow marks dividing or bounding a football field, tennis court, etc.: often used in combination sideline
    2. a mark indicating a starting point, a limit not to be crossed, or a point which must be reached or passed
  6. ☆ a border or boundary the state line
  7. a division between conditions, qualities, classes, etc.; limit; demarcation
  8. outline; contour; lineament built along modern lines
  9. Archaic lot in life; one's fate
  10. a plan of construction; plan of making or doing
  11. a row or series of persons or things of a particular kind; specif.,
    1. a row of written or printed characters extending across or part way across a page
    2. a single row of words or characters making up a unit of poetry, often of a specified number of feet
    3. ☆ a row of persons waiting in turn to buy something, enter a theater, etc.; queue
    4. an assembly line or a similar arrangement for the packing, shipping, etc. of merchandise
  12. a connected series of persons or things following each other in time or place; succession a line of Democratic presidents
  13. lineage
  14. the descendants of a common ancestor or of a particular breed
  15. ☆
    1. a transportation system or service consisting of regular trips by buses, ships, etc. between two or more points
    2. ☆ a company operating such a system
    3. one branch or division of such a system the main line of a railroad
    4. a single track of a railroad
  16. the course or direction anything moving takes; path the line of fire
    1. a course of conduct, action, explanation, etc. the line of an argument
    2. a course of movement
  18. a person's trade or occupation what's his line?
  19. ☆ a stock of goods of a particular type considered with reference to quality, quantity, variety, etc.
    1. the field of one's special knowledge, interest, or ability
    2. a source or piece of information a line on a bargain
  21. a short letter, note, or card drop me a line
  22. all the speeches in a play; esp., the speeches of any single character
  23. Informal persuasive or flattering talk that is insincere
  24. ☆ Informal the odds given by a bookmaker on the contestants in a race, game, etc.
  25. Slang a small quantity of cocaine sniffed at one time
  26. Brit. a stock, supply, display, etc., as of literary or artistic qualities, methods, or techniques a nice line in irony
  27. Chiefly Brit. a marriage certificate
    in full marriage lines
  28. ☆ Basketball
  29. Bridge the horizontal line on a score sheet below which are recorded points that count toward a game and above which, all other points
  30. ☆ Football
    1. line of scrimmage
    2. the players arranged in a row on either side of the line of scrimmage at the start of each play
  31. Geog. an imaginary circle of the earth or of the celestial sphere, as the equator or the equinoctial circle
  32. Hockey the two wings and the center playing together
  33. Math.
    1. the path of a moving point, thought of as having length but not breadth, whether straight or curved
    2. such a path when considered perfectly straight
  34. Mil.
    1. a formation of ships, troops, etc. in which elements are abreast of each other
    2. the area or position in closest contact with the enemy during combat
    3. the troops in this area
    4. the officers in immediate command of fighting ships or combat troops
    5. ☆ the combatant branches of the army as distinguished from the supporting branches and the staff
  35. Music any of the long parallel marks forming the staff
  36. TV a scanning line

Etymology: ME merging OE, a cord, with OFr ligne (both < L linea, lit., linen thread, n. use of fem. of lineus, of flax < linum, flax)

transitive verb lined, lining lin′·ing

  1. to mark with lines
  2. to draw or trace with or as with lines
  3. to bring or cause to come into a straight row or into conformity; bring into alignment: often with up
  4. to form a line along elms line the streets
  5. to place objects along the edge of line the walk with flowers
  6. ☆ Baseball to hit (a pitched ball) in a line drive

intransitive verb

  1. to form a line: usually with up
  2. ☆ Baseball to hit a line drive

adjective

of or having to do with the managing of departments, operations, etc. which are involved directly in producing income, as in production or sales as distinguished from those involved in routine internal functions

Related Forms:

line¹ Idioms

all along the line

  1. everywhere
  2. at every turn of events

bring (or come or get) into line

to bring (or come or cause to come) into a straight row or into conformity; bring or come into alignment

down the line

completely; entirely

draw the line

or draw a line
to set a limit

get a line on

☆
Informal to find out about

hard lines

Brit., Slang misfortune; bad luck

hit the line

☆
  1. Football to try to carry the ball through the opposing line
  2. to try boldly or firmly to do something

hold the line

to stand firm; not permit a breakthrough or retreat: often used figuratively

in line

  1. in a straight row; in alignment
  2. in agreement or conformity
  3. behaving properly or as required

in line for

being considered for

in line of duty

in the performance of authorized or prescribed military duty

lay it on the line

or put it on the line
  1. to put up or pay money; pay up
  2. to speak frankly and in detail
  3. to stake (one's reputation, etc.) on something: usually with the object of the verb explicitly stated

line out

  1. ☆ Baseball to be put out by hitting a line drive that is caught by a fielder
  2. to sing or utter forcefully, loudly, or emphatically to line out a song

line up

  1. to form a line
  2. to bring into a line
  3. to organize effectively, secure a pledge of support from, etc.
  4. to take a position (against a competitor or rival)

on a line

in the same plane; level

on line

in or into active use or production the new plant came on line this year

on the line

  1. at great risk
  2. at a critical juncture, as between success and failure or life and death

out of line

  1. not in a straight line; not in alignment
  2. not in agreement or conformity
  3. impertinent, insubordinate, etc.

read between the lines

to discover a hidden meaning or purpose in something written, said, or done
line² Definition

line (līn)

transitive verb lined, lining lin′·ing

  1. to put a layer or lining of a different material on the inside of
  2. to be used as a lining in cloth lined the trunk
  3. to fill; stuff: now chiefly in line one's pockets, to make money, esp. greedily or unethically

Etymology: ME lynen < lin, long-fiber flax, linen cloth < OE, ult. < L linum, flax: from use of linen to line clothes

line Synonyms

line

n.

  1. A row

    length, list, rank, file, catalogue, array, order, group, arrangement, furrow, ridge, range, seam, band, border, block, series, sequence, succession, chain, train, string, column, procession, formation, division, queue, magazine, concatenation, trench, channel, groove, drain, mark, scar, thread, fissure, crack, straight line; see also seam, series.

  2. A mark

    outline, tracing, stroke; see mark 1.

  3. A rope

    cord, filament, steel tape; see rope, wire 1.

  4. Lineal descent

    descent, pedigree, genealogy, lineage; see family 1, heredity.

  5. A border line

    border, mark, limit; see boundary, edge 1.

  6. A course

    street, lane, path; see road 1, route 1.

  7. Policy

    belief, principle, course; see plan 2, policy, route 2.

  8. Matter printed in a row of type

    row, words, letters; see copy.

  9. A military front

    front line, disposition, formation, position; see front 2.

  10. A railroad

    trunk line, sideline, mainline; see railroad, track 1.

  11. An organization supplying transportation

    steamship line, airline, bus company; see transportation.

  12. *The kind or materials of trade

    materials, trade, involvement; see business 1, industry 3.

  13. *Goods handled by a given house

    wares, merchandise, produce; see commodity, material 2.

  14. *Talk intended to influence another

    prepared speech, patter, persuasion; see conversation, speech 3.

all along the line

at every turn, completely, constantly; see everywhere.

bring into line

align, make uniform, regulate; see order 3.

down the line

  1. Completely

    entirely, thoroughly, wholly; see completely.

  2. Later

    after a while, presently, by and by; see following.

draw the (<strong><em>or</em> </strong>a) line

set a limit, prohibit, restrain; see restrict 2.

get a line on*

find out about, investigate, expose; see discover.

in line

agreeing, conforming, uniform; see regular 3.

in line for

being considered for, ready, thought about; see considered 1.

in line of duty

authorized, prescribed, required; see approved, legal 1.

lay (<strong><em>or</em> </strong>put) it on the line*

elucidate, define, clarify; see explain.

on a line

linear, lined, level; see direct 1, straight 1.

out of line

misdirected, not uniform, not even; see irregular 1, 2.

read between the lines

read meaning into, discover a hidden meaning, expose; see understand 1.

line Synonyms

line

v.

  1. To provide a lining

    interline, encrust, stuff, wad, panel, incrust, reinforce the back of, pad, quilt, fill, overlay, bush, sheath, wainscot; see also face 3.

  2. To provide lines

    trace, delineate, outline; see draw 2, mark 1.

  3. To be in a line

    border, edge, outline, rank, rim, bound, skirt, fall in, fall into line, fringe, follow; see also succeed 2.

  4. To arrange in a line

    align, queue, marshal, dress, face in, arrange, range, array, group, set out, bring into a line with others, fix, place, list space, line right, line left, rank, draw up; see also file 1, line up, order 3.

    Antonyms disarrange, disperse, scatter.

line Telecom Definition
  1. A station line refers to the circuit between a private branch exchange (PBX) switch and a station user's terminal equipment, which usually is in the form of telephone, although it could be a computer workstation, a printer, a facsimile machine, or some other device.
  2. In rate and tariff terminology, line refers to a local loop connection from the telephone company central office (CO) switch to the user premises in support of customer premises equipment (CPE) other than a switch. Such CPE can be in the form of a single-line residence or business set, a multiline set, or the common control unit of a key telephone system (KTS). Such a line is single-channel in nature, i.e., supports a single conversation and is voice grade, i.e., provides enough bandwidth to support a voice conversation, and has a single associated telephone number. A line may be thought of as a tributary of a trunk. See also line side, trunk, and trunk side.
line Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • draw: Color Set the color of the line drawn around the graph.
  • cross: Crossing either the railroad line or bridge is not permitted.
  • divide: The dividing line between these and Internet services is blurring.

Adjective modifier

  • bottom: For the doctor who needs the bottom line in a hurry, this book is hard to beat.
  • straight: To produce a finite straight line continuously in a straight line.
  • front: They were in the front line of all the action.
  • main: Soon we rattled across the level crossing with the Cork main line at Limerick Junction.
  • vertical: The larger inner ring rotates around the horizontal line and the smaller rotates around the vertical line.
  • dotted: You can start spending on you store card as soon as youâve signed the dotted line.

Modifies a noun

  • drawing: Line drawings must be in a form suitable for direct photographic reproduction.
  • manager: You can get details of the relevant line manager from the person you originally dealt with, or by phoning our Inquiry Unit.

Noun used with modifier

  • command: Word: Startup Switches Passing command line switches via the shortcut or command prompt allow you to control how Word starts up.
  • railroad: A few years ago a three year old boy called Benny wandered off alone onto an electric railroad line.
  • telephone: The Internet may also be accessed via other means, for example over a telephone line via the OUCS Dial-up Service.
  • phone: Eavesdrop Phone Sex - UK Are you a bit shy about calling a live phone sex line?
  • bass: To be honest, the first two songs here I enjoy purely for the bass lines - you could smoke these bass lines.
  • finish: All cyclists start on square 0. 6. There are two sprint finish lines.

Preposition: of

  • sight: However, unlike normal sight, long-distance viewing, once elected, is not limited by lines of sight and perspective.
  • defense: You won't have seen them because there are two lines of defense.

Preposition: with

  • inflation: Real change: the Climate Change Levy on business energy use will rise in line with inflation from now on.
line Quotes

All along the line, physically, mentally, morally, alcohol is a weakening and deadening force, and it is worth a great deal to save women and girls from its influence.

—Webb, (Martha) Beatrice ne¤  e Potter

The moving finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy piety nor wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.

—Fitzgerald, Edward

Unless there is a new mind there cannot be a new line, the old will go on repeating itself with recurring deadliness:

—Williams,William Carlos

Belove'  d, what are names but air? Choose thou whatever suits the line; Call me Sappho, call me Chloris, Call me Lalage or Doris, Only, only call meThine.

—Coleridge, Samuel Taylor

Mutationem motus proportionalem esse vi motrici impressae et fieri secundum lineam rectam qua vis illa imprimitur. The alteration of motion is ever proportional to the motive force impressed; and is made in the direction of the right line in which that force is impressed.

—Newton, Sir Isaac

I'm the end of the line; absurd and appalling as it may seem, serious New York theater has died in my lifetime.

—Miller, Arthur

I purpose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer.

—Grant, Ulysses S(impson)

[a character in Mr Puff's play within a play,'The Spanish Armanda'] Perdition catch my soul but I do love thee. : Haven't I heard that line before? : No, I fancy not.öWhere pray? :Yes, I think there is something like it in Othello. : Gad! now you put me in mind on't, I believe there isöbut that's of no consequence; all that can be said is, that two people happened to hit upon the same thoughtöand Shakespeare made use of it first, that's all.

—Sheridan, Richard Brinsley

Any work that aspires, however humbly, tothe condition of art should carry its justification in every line.

—Korzeniowski

The line dividing the state from what is called private enterprise, orat least fromthehighlyorganized part of it, is a traditional fiction.

—Galbraith,John Kenneth

   The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord G106 hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

—Bible (Old Testament)

The slothful man saith,There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

—Bible (Old Testament)

The Lion looked at Alice wearily.'Are you animalöor vegetableöor mineral?' he said, yawning at every other word.

—Dodgson

For twenty years he has held a season ticket on the line of least resistance and has gone wherever the train of events has carried him, lucidly justifying his position at whatever point he happened to find himself.

—Amery, Leo(pold) Charles Maurice Stennett

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw likethe ox. And thesucking child shall playonthehole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice'den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the L, as the waters cover the sea.

—Bible (Old Testament)

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the L.

—Bible (Old Testament)

He knew too well for any earthly use The line where man leaves off and nature starts, And never overstepped it save in dreams.

—Frost, Robert Lee

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog isbetter thana dead lion.For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

—Bible (Old Testament)

By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you: doye not labourand toil, and give and bring all to the woman? Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to steal, to sail upon the sea and upon rivers; And looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.

—Bible (Apocrypha)

I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me,To measure Jerusalem, toseewhat isthebreadththereof, and what is the length thereof.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Corpus omne perseverare in statu suo quiescendi vel movendi uniformiter in directum, nisi quatenus illud a viribus impressis cogitur statum suum mutare. Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a right line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed thereon.

—Newton, Sir Isaac

   I have never accepted what many people have kindly saidöthat I inspired the nation. It was the nation and the race living around theglobe that had the lion heart.I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar.

—Churchill, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer

Better one day as a lion than a hundred years as a sheep.

—Mussolini, Benito also called Il Duce [the Leader]

David said moreover,The L that delivered me out of thepawofthelion, and out ofthepawofthebear, hewill deliver me outofthehand ofthis Philistine. And Saulsaid unto David,Go, and the L be with thee.

—Bible (Old Testament)

No horse's cry was that, most like the roar Of some pained desert lion, who all day Hath trailed the hunter's javelin in his side, And comes at night to die upon the sand.

—Arnold, Matthew

For us in Russia, communism is a dead dog, while, for many people in the West, it is still a living lion.

—Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr Isayevich

Strong is the lionölike a coal His eye-ballölike a bastion's mole His chest against the foes: Strong, the gier-eagle on his sail, Strong against tide, th'enormous whale Emerges as he goes.

—Smart, Christopher

I stood inVenice, on the Bridge of Sighs; A palace and a prison on each hand: I saw from out the wave her structures rise As from the stroke of the enchanter's wand: A thousand years their cloudy wings expand Around me, and a dying Glory smiles O'er the far times, when manya subject land Look'd to the winged Lion's marble piles, WhereVenice sate in state, thron'd on her hundred isles!

—Rochdale

The Pride of the peacock is the glory of God. The lust of the goat is the bounty of God. The wrath of the lion is the wisdom of God. The nakedness of woman is the work of God.

—Blake,William