Definitions for Line
Line
line
Spelling: [lahyn]
IPA: /laɪn/
Line is a 4 letter English word.
It's valid Scrabble word worth 4 points.
It's valid Words with friends word worth 6 points.
You can make 31 anagrams from letters in Line (eiln).
Definitions for Line
noun
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a mark or stroke long in proportion to its breadth, made with a pen, pencil, tool, etc., on a surface:
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Mathematics. a continuous extent of length, straight or curved, without breadth or thickness; the trace of a moving point.
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something arranged along a line, especially a straight line; a row or series:
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a number of persons standing one behind the other and waiting their turns at or for something; queue.
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something resembling a traced line, as a band of color, a seam, or a furrow:
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a furrow or wrinkle on the face, neck, etc.:
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an indication of demarcation; boundary; limit:
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a row of written or printed letters, words, etc.:
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a verse of poetry:
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Usually, lines. the words of an actor's part in a drama, musical comedy, etc.:
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a short written message:
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a system of public conveyances, as buses or trains, plying regularly over a fixed route:
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a transportation or conveyance company:
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a course of direction; route:
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a course of action, procedure, thought, policy, etc.:
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a piece of pertinent or useful information (usually followed by on):
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a series of generations of persons, animals, or plants descended from a common ancestor:
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a department of activity; occupation or business:
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Informal. a mode of conversation, especially one that is glib or exaggerated in order to impress or influence another person:
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a straight line drawn from an observed object to the fovea of the eye.
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lines.
the outer form or proportions of a ship, building, etc.:
a general form, as of an event or something that is made, which may be the basis of comparison, imitation, etc.:
a person's lot or portion:
Chiefly British. a certificate of marriage.
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a circle of the terrestrial or celestial sphere:
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banner (def 7).
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Fine Arts.
a mark made by a pencil, brush, or the like, that defines the contour of a shape, forms hatching, etc.
the edge of a shape.
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Television. one scanning line.
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Telecommunications.
a telephone connection:
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.
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the line, Geography. the equator.
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a stock of commercial goods of the same general class but having a range of styles, sizes, prices, or quality:
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an assembly line.
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Law. a limit defining one estate from another; the outline or boundary of a piece of real estate.
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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)
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Music. any of the straight, horizontal, parallel strokes of the staff, or one placed above or below the staff.
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Military.
a defensive position or front.
a series of fortifications:
Usually, lines. a distribution of troops, sentries, etc., for the defense of a position or for an attack:
the body of personnel constituting the combatant forces of an army, as distinguished from the supply services and staff corps.
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an arrangement of troops of an army or of ships of a fleet as drawn up for battle:
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a body or formation of troops or ships drawn up abreast (distinguished from column (def 6.)).
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the class of officers serving with combatant units or warships.
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the regular forces of an army or navy.
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that part of an administrative organization consisting of persons actively engaged on a given project.
Compare staff1 (def 4).
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a thread, string, cord, rope, or the like.
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a clothesline:
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a cord, wire, or the like, used for measuring or as a guide.
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Nautical.
a pipe or hose:
a rope or cable used at sea.
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Slang. a small quantity of cocaine arranged in the form of a slender thread or line, as for sniffing.
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Also, ligne. a unit equal to 1/40 (0.025) inch (0.64 mm), for measuring the diameter of buttons.
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Angling. a length of nylon, silk, linen, cord, or the like, to which are attached the leader, hook, sinker, float, etc.
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Football.
either of the two front rows of opposing players lined up opposite each other on the line of scrimmage:
the line of scrimmage.
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the betting odds established by bookmakers for events not covered by pari-mutuel betting, especially sporting events, as football or basketball.
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Ice Hockey. the two wings and center who make up a team's offensive unit.
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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.
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Textiles. the longer and preferred flax or hemp fibers.
Compare tow2 (def 2).
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Fox Hunting. the trail of scent left by a fox.
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a unit of length equivalent to 1/12 (0.0833) inch (2.12 millimeters).
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Insurance.
a class or type of insurance:
the amount of insurance written for a particular risk.
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Australian Slang. a girl or woman.
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a thickness of glue, as between two veneers in a sheet of plywood.
Idioms
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bring / come / get into line,
to become or cause to become straight, as in a row:
to conform or cause to conform or agree:
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cross the line, to go beyond accepted standards of behavior:
Sometimes, cross a boundary.
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down the line,
in all ways; thoroughly; fully:
in the future.
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draw the line, to impose a restriction; limit:
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go up in one's lines, Theater. to forget one's part during a performance.
Also, British, go up on one's lines.
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hold the line, to maintain the status quo, especially in order to forestall unfavorable developments:
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in line,
in alignment; straight.
in conformity or agreement.
in control (of one's conduct):
prepared; ready.
waiting one behind the other in a queue:
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in line with, in agreement or conformity with:
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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.
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lay it on the line, Informal.
to give money; pay.
to give the required information; speak directly or frankly:
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off line,
occurring or functioning away from an assembly line, work process, etc.
not in operation; not functioning.
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on a line, Baseball. (of a batted or thrown ball) through the air in an approximately straight line from the point of impact or delivery:
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on line,
on or part of an assembly line:
in or into operation:
Computers. actively linked to a computer:
Chiefly New York City. line1 (def 73e).
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on the line, Informal.
being risked or put in jeopardy; in a vulnerable position:
immediately; readily:
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out of line,
not in a straight line.
in disagreement with what is accepted or practiced.
Informal. impertinent; presumptuous:
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read between the lines, to understand the unexpressed but implied meaning of something said or written:
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toe the line / mark,
to conform strictly to a rule, command, etc.
to shoulder responsibilities; do one's duty:
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line one's pockets, to make much money, especially in an illegal or questionable way.
Verb phrases
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line out,
Baseball. to be put out by hitting a line drive caught on the fly by a player of the opposing team.
to execute or perform:
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line up, to secure; make available:
verb (used with object)
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to bring into a line, or into line with others (often followed by up):
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to mark with a line or lines:
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to sketch verbally or in writing; outline (often followed by out):
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to arrange a line along:
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to form a line along:
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to apply eyeliner to (the eyes).
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to delineate with or as if with lines; draw:
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Archaic. to measure or test with a line.
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to cover the inner side or surface of:
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to serve to cover:
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to furnish or fill:
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to reinforce the back of a book with glued fabric, paper, vellum, etc.
verb (used without object)
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to take a position in a line; range (often followed by up):
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Baseball.
to hit a line drive.
to line out.
Origin of Line
before 1000; Middle English li(g)ne cord, rope, stroke, series, guiding rule, partly Old French ligne ≪ Latin līnea, noun use of feminine of līneus flaxen (orig. applied to string), equivalen
Examples for Line
In the end, the line between magic and religion may be something of an artificial one.
How restful this quiet and reserve after the colour and line tumult of the Higbee apartment.
Is it any wonder that the interests of large corporations and unions get to the front of the line?
His voice was thin, but it kept that line of hands high above their heads.
These people put their lives on the line for the rest of us, too.
We did not get on it till we had travelled along the line about fifteen miles.
Last week I turned 40, a bittersweet occasion because I crossed the line to living longer without my mother than with her.
All else is but the setting, and the eye sweeps with indifference the line of unpeopled rocks.
Yet all too often the line between Southern and Confederate can get blurred.
Garmer tried to steer me off this line of stocks the other night.