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'
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
[ Syn: course ]
a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent
a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface; his face has many lines; ironing gets rid of most wrinkles
a pipe used to transport liquids or gases; a pipeline runs from the wells to the seaport
[ Syn: pipeline ]
the road consisting of railroad track and roadbed
[ Syn: railway line , rail line ]
a telephone connection
[ Syn: telephone line , phone line , telephone circuit , subscriber line ]
acting in conformity; in line with; he got out of line; toe the line'
the descendants of one individual; his entire lineage has been warriors
[ Syn: lineage , line of descent , descent , bloodline , blood line , blood , pedigree , ancestry , origin , parentage , stemma , stock ]
something (as a cord or rope) that is long and thin and flexible; a washing line'
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money; hes not in my line of business
[ Syn: occupation , business , job , line of work ]
a mark that is long relative to its width; He drew a line on the chart'
in games or sports; a mark indicating positions or bounds of the playing area
(often plural) a means of communication or access; it must go through official channels; lines of communication were set up between the two firms
[ Syn: channel , communication channel ]
a particular kind of product or merchandise; a nice line of shoes
[ Syn: product line , line of products , line of merchandise , business line , line of business ]
a commercial organization serving as a common carrier
space for one line of print (one column wide and 1/14 inch deep) used to measure advertising
[ Syn: agate line ]
the maximum credit that a customer is allowed
[ Syn: credit line , line of credit , bank line , personal credit line , personal line of credit ]
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; she was humming an air from Beethoven
[ Syn: tune , melody , air , strain , melodic line , melodic phrase ]
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'
a short personal letter; drop me a line when you get there
[ Syn: note , short letter , billet ]
a conceptual separation or distinction; there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity
[ Syn: dividing line , demarcation , contrast ]
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'
mechanical system in a factory whereby an article is conveyed through sites at which successive operations are performed on it
[ Syn: production line , assembly line ]
a length (straight or curved) without breadth or thickness; the trace of a moving point
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'
a single frequency (or very narrow band) of radiation in a spectrum
a fortified position (especially one marking the most forward position of troops); they attacked the enemy's line'
a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the methodical process of logical reasoning; I cant follow your line of reasoning
[ Syn: argumentation , logical argument , argument , line of reasoning ]
a conductor for transmitting electrical or optical signals or electric power
[ Syn: cable , transmission line ]
line (n.)
be in line with; form a line along; trees line the riverbank
[ Syn: run along ]
cover the interior of; line the gloves; line a chimney'
make a mark or lines on a surface; draw a line; trace the outline of a figure in the sand
mark with lines; sorrow had lined his face'
fill plentifully; line one's pockets'
reinforce with fabric; lined books are more enduring'