line
/laɪn/
Dictionary
noun
- A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight.
"The arrow descended in a curved line."
- A rope, cord, string, or thread, of any thickness.
- A hose or pipe, of any size.
"a brake line"
- Direction, path.
"the line of sight"
- The wire connecting one telegraphic station with another, a telephone or internet cable between two points: a telephone or network connection.
"I tried to make a call, but the line was dead."
- A clothesline.
- A letter, a written form of communication.
"Drop me a line."
- A connected series of public conveyances, as a roadbed or railway track; and hence, an established arrangement for forwarding merchandise, etc.
"a line of stages"
- A trench or rampart, or the non-physical demarcation of the extent of the territory occupied by specified forces.
- The exterior limit of a figure or territory: a boundary, contour, or outline; a demarcation.
- A long tape or ribbon marked with units for measuring; a tape measure.
- A measuring line or cord.
- That which was measured by a line, such as a field or any piece of land set apart; hence, allotted place of abode.
- A threadlike crease or wrinkle marking the face, hand, or body; hence, a characteristic mark.
- Lineament; feature; figure (of one's body).
- A more-or-less straight sequence of people, objects, etc., either arranged as a queue or column and often waiting to be processed or dealt with, or arranged abreast of one another in a row (and contrasted with a column), as in a military formation.
"The line forms on the right."
- The regular infantry of an army, as distinguished from militia, guards, volunteer corps, cavalry, artillery etc.
- A series or succession of ancestors or descendants of a given person; a family or race; compare lineage.
- A small amount of text. Specifically:
- Course of conduct, thought, occupation, or policy; method of argument; department of industry, trade, or intellectual activity.
- The official, stated position (or set of positions) of an individual or group, particularly a political or religious faction.
"Remember, your answers must match the party line."
- A set of products or services sold by a business, or by extension, the business itself.
"How many buses does the line have?"
- A number of shares taken by a jobber.
- A measure of length:
- A maxwell, a unit of magnetic flux.
- (1800s, with "the") The batter’s box.
- The position in which the fencers hold their swords.
- Proper relative position or adjustment (of parts, not as to design or proportion, but with reference to smooth working).
"the engine is in line / out of line"
- A small path-shaped portion or serving of a powdery illegal drug, especially cocaine.
- Instruction; doctrine.
- Population of cells derived from a single cell and containing the same genetic makeup.
- (perfusion line) a set composed of a spike, a drip chamber, a clamp, a Y-injection site, a three-way stopcock and a catheter.
- A group of forwards that play together.
- A vascular catheter.
"line sepsis"
verb
- To place (objects) into a line (usually used with "up"); to form into a line; to align.
"to line troops"
- To place persons or things along the side of for security or defense; to strengthen by adding; to fortify.
"to line works with soldiers"
- To form a line along.
- To mark with a line or lines, to cover with lines.
"to line a copy book"
- To represent by lines; to delineate; to portray.
- To read or repeat line by line.
"to line out a hymn"
- To hit a line drive; to hit a line drive which is caught for an out. Compare fly and ground.
"Jones lined to left in his last at-bat."
- To track (wild bees) to their nest by following their line of flight.
- To measure.
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