line

I

[[t]laɪn[/t]]

n. v. lined, lin•ing

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

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

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

a line of trees[/ex]

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

5) something resembling a traced line, as a seam or furrow:

lines of stratification in rock[/ex]

6) a furrow or wrinkle on the face, neck, etc

7) an indication of demarcation; boundary; limit:

the county line; a fine line between right and wrong[/ex]

8) pri a row of written or printed letters, words, etc

9) pro a unit in the metrical structure of a poem or lyric, composed of feet

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

11) a short written message:

Drop me a line when you're on vacation[/ex]

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

13) trs a transportation company:

a steamship line[/ex]

14) a course of direction; route:

the line of march[/ex]

15) a course of action, procedure, thought, policy, etc.:

That newspaper follows a conservative line[/ex]

16) a piece of pertinent or useful information:

I've got a line on a good used car[/ex]

17) a series of generations of persons, animals, or plants descended from a common ancestor:

a line of kings[/ex]

18) a person's occupation or business:

What line are you in?[/ex]

19) inf Informal. a mode of conversation intended to impress or influence:

He handed us a line about his rich relatives[/ex]

20) outline or contour:

a ship of fine lines[/ex]

21) lines

a) a plan of construction, action, or procedure:

two books written along the same lines[/ex]

b) Chiefly Brit. a certificate of marriage

22) geo a circle of the terrestrial or celestial sphere:

the equinoctial line[/ex]

23) fia Art.

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

b) the edge of a shape

24) tgp

a) a telephone connection:

Please hold the line[/ex]

b) 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

25) bus clo a stock of goods of the same general class but having a range of styles, sizes, prices, or quality

26) mac an assembly line

27) law Law. a limit defining one estate from another; the outline or boundary of a piece of real estate

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

29) mad mus any of the straight, horizontal, parallel strokes of the staff, or one placed above or below the staff

30) mil

a) for a series of fortifications:

the Maginot line[/ex]

b) mil Often, lines. a distribution of troops, ships, etc., arranged for defense or drawn up for battle:

behind enemy lines[/ex]

c) the combatant forces of an army or navy, or their officers

31) mil a body or formation of troops or ships drawn up abreast

(disting. from column 6))

32) that part of an administrative organization consisting of persons actively engaged on a given project

33) a thread, string, cord, rope, etc

34) a clothesline

35) a cord, wire, etc., used for measuring or as a guide

36) naut. navig. a pipe or hose:

a steam line[/ex]

37) naut. navig. a rope or cable used at sea

38) cvb sts Slang. a small quantity of cocaine arranged in the form of a slender thread, as for sniffing

39) spo a cord or string with a hook, sinker, float, etc., for catching fish

40) spo

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

b) line of scrimmage

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

42) spo the two wings and center that comprise an ice hockey team's offensive unit

43) to take a position in a line; range (often fol. by up)

44) spo baseball

a) to hit a line drive

b) to line out

45) to bring into a line, or into line with others (often fol. by up):

to line up troops[/ex]

46) to mark with a line or lines

47) to form a line along:

Rocks lined the drive[/ex]

48) clo to apply liner to (the eyes)

49) to delineate with or as if with lines; draw:

to line a silhouette[/ex]

50) phv line out

a) spo baseball to be put out by hitting a line drive caught on the fly by a player of the opposing team

b) Informal. to execute or perform:

to line out a song[/ex]

51) phv line up, to secure; make available

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- down the line draw the line hold the line in (the) line of duty lay it on the line off line on line on the line out of line

Etymology: bef. 1000; ME li(g)ne, partly < OF ligne (< L līnea, orig. n. use of fem. of līneus flaxen < līn(um) flax (see line II) lin′a•ble, line′a•ble, adj. II

line

[[t]laɪn[/t]] v. lined, lin•ing

1) to cover the inner side or surface of:

to line a coat with blue silk[/ex]

2) to cover:

Bookcases lined the walls[/ex]

3) to furnish or fill:

to line shelves with provisions[/ex]

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

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