Line

/laɪn/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A long, narrow mark or band.
She drew a line on the paper to separate the sections.
A row of written or printed characters.
Please read the first line of the text aloud.
A boundary or limit.
They crossed the line by making inappropriate comments.
A sequence of people or things.
There was a long line of cars waiting at the red light.
verb
To mark or draw a line (on something).
He lined the page with a ruler before writing.
To arrange in a line.
She lined the books up on the shelf.
To cover the inside of something.
They lined the cake tin with parchment paper.

Etymology

Middle English, from Old French 'ligne', from Latin 'linea', meaning a linen thread.

Common Phrases and Expressions

in line with
in agreement with or according to.
toed the line
to conform or comply with the rules.
draw a line
to set a limit.
line in the sand
a point beyond which one will not go.
the bottom line
the most important or fundamental aspect.

Related Words

outline
a general description or summary of something.
baseline
a starting point used for comparisons.
headline
the title of a newspaper article.
pipeline
a system or series of pipes for conveying fluids.
feline
relating to cats.

Slang Meanings

To be in line for something.
I’m in line for a promotion at work.
Drop a line.
Feel free to drop me a line if you need anything.
Get in line.
You’ll have to get in line to buy tickets.