Line Definition

līn
lined, lines, lining
noun
lines
A long, fine, strong cord with a hook, sinker, leader, etc., used in fishing.
Webster's New World
A crease in the skin, especially on the face; a wrinkle.
American Heritage
A real or imaginary mark positioned in relation to fixed points of reference.
American Heritage
A rein.
Webster's New World
A very thin, threadlike mark.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
lined, lines, lining
To mark with lines.
Webster's New World
To form a line.
Webster's New World
To draw or trace with or as with lines.
Webster's New World
To cover the inner surface of.
Moisture lined the walls of the cave.
American Heritage
To bring or cause to come into a straight row or into conformity; bring into alignment.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
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.
Webster's New World
idiom
all along the line
  • In every place.
  • At every stage or moment.
American Heritage
down the line
  • All the way; throughout:

    Errors are to be found down the line.

  • At a point or an end in the future.
American Heritage
in line for
  • Next in order for:

    in line for the presidency.

American Heritage
on the line
  • Ready or available for immediate payment.
  • So as to be risked; in jeopardy:
American Heritage
out of line
  • Uncalled-for; improper.
  • Unruly and out of control.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Line

Noun

Singular:
line
Plural:
lines

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Line

Origin of Line

  • From Middle English line, lyne, from Old English lÄ«ne (“line, cable, rope, hawser, series, row, rule, direction"), from Proto-Germanic *lÄ«nÇ­ (“line, rope, flaxen cord, thread"), from Proto-Germanic *lÄ«nÄ… (“flax, linen"), from Proto-Indo-European *lÄ«n- (“flax").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English līne and from Old French ligne both from Latin līnea string, cord from feminine of līneus of linen from līnum thread, linen lī̆no- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English linen from line flax, linen cloth from Old English līn from Latin līnum lī̆no- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Influenced in Middle English by Middle French ligne (“line"), from Latin linea. More at linen.

    From Wiktionary

  • The oldest sense of the word is "rope, cord, thread"; from this the senses "path", "continuous mark" were derived.

    From Wiktionary

  • Old English lÄ«n (“flax, linen, cloth"). For more information, see the entry "linen".

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle French ligner.

    From Wiktionary

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