noun | verb
lineline1 /laɪn/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1
LONG THIN MARK [countable] math, geometry a long thin, usually continuous mark on a surface: I drew a line across the top of the page. A straight line connected the two points. The vertical lines on the graph represent different amounts of money. Sign your name on the dotted line (=a line that consists of a series of dots). → see also dotted lineTHESAURUSstripe – a straight line of color on cloth, paper, etc., usually as part of a pattern where the line is repeated many times: The U.S. flag has red and white stripes.streak – a colored line, especially one that is not straight or that has been made without any plan or pattern: His hair was black with streaks of gray.band – a thick colored line: The fish has a black band on its fin.2LIMIT/END [countable] a long thin mark used to show a limit or end of something: The ball had clearly gone over the line.between the lines You are supposed to park between the white lines. → see also finish line3ATTITUDE/BELIEF [countable usually singular] an attitude or belief, especially one that is stated publicly SYN stance, position: There is a fear of expressing views contrary to the party line (=the official opinion of a political party or other group). Journalists are often too willing to accept the official line (=the opinion that someone states officially).4along the lines of something (also along the same/similar etc. lines, along these/those lines) used to say that something is similar to or done in a similar way to what you are talking about: They’re planning a trip to the beach or something along those lines (=something like that).5take a firm/hard/strict etc. line on something to have a very strict attitude toward something: The governor has taken a hard line on illegal immigration.6BETWEEN TWO TYPES OF THING [countable usually singular] the difference between one type of thing and another type, or the point at which one type of thing becomes another type when it changes slightly: Her comments really crossed the line into rudeness. There are families in our community who are living below the poverty line (=the point at which people are considered to be very poor). There’s a fine line between patriotism and nationalism (=very little difference between them).7PEOPLE WAITING [countable, uncountable] a row of people or cars that are waiting one behind the other: line of There was a long line of traffic. I waited in line for over an hour to get my license. He tried to cut in line (=go in front of other people who were waiting).8PEOPLE/THINGS [countable] a row of people or things next to each other: line of There was a line of cypress trees in the back of the yard. The teacher told us to get in line outside the classroom. The dancers formed a line on the stage.in a line The toys were arranged in a line on the shelf.9TELEPHONE/INTERNET ETC. [countable] a telephone wire, or the wires that connect the system of communication in an area, including telephone, Internet, etc. signals: We’re thinking about getting a second line installed. The lines were down for days after the storm (=they were not working). There was a lot of static on the line.10a line of action/thought/reasoning etc. a way or method of doing something or thinking about something: The lawyer decided to pursue another line of questioning.11along religious/party/ethnic etc. lines a)used to say that people make a decision according to the beliefs of the religion, political party, ethnic group, etc. that they belong to: The vote went almost strictly along party lines. b)organized according to a particular method or idea: The party was re-formed along socialist lines.12WORDS [countable] a line of words on a page from a poem, story, song, etc.: line of Read the first two lines of the poem.13REMARK [countable] informal something that someone says, especially something you think is insincere or dishonest: She gave me some line about her mother being sick.14ON somebody'S FACE [countable] a line on the skin of someone’s face or skin SYN wrinkle: There were fine lines around her eyes. He frowned, and deep lines appeared between his eyebrows.15SHAPE [countable usually plural] the outer shape of something long or tall: He appreciated the car’s smooth elegant lines.16LAND [countable] a border or imaginary line, that shows the limits of an area of land: He was born in a small town just across the state line. They were still traveling along the same line of longitude.17ROPE/STRING [countable] a piece of string or rope that you hang wet clothes on outside in order to dry them SYN clothesline: on the line Towels hung on the line.18FISHING [countable] a strong thin string with a hook on the end, used for catching fish19ACTOR'S SPEECH [countable usually plural] the words of a play or performance that an actor learns: It took me a long time to learn my lines.20RAILROAD [countable] a track that a train travels along: A train had broken down further along the line. There is a train stopped on the Richmond line. In Chicago, the blue line runs from O'Hare airport to Forest Park.21DIRECTION [countable usually singular] the direction or the imaginary line along which something travels between two points in space: in a line Light travels in a straight line. Two innocent people were caught in the line of fire when the shooting started (=they were in the area through which the bullets were shot).22JOB [countable usually singular] the kind of work someone does: What line of work are you in?23PRODUCT [countable] a type of goods for sale in a store: The fashion designer has just launched a new women’s clothing line.line of The company has discontinued its line of sports equipment (=stopped selling it).24somebody’s line of vision in the area that someone can see at a particular time: He stood still, trying to stay out of Sabine’s line of vision.25in the line of duty if something happens in the line of duty, it happens while you are doing your job: Officer Choi was killed in the line of duty.26in line a)happening according to particular rules, laws, plans, etc.: line with In line with expectations, the economy has grown by 1.5% this year. Construction companies are trying to keep their costs in line. b)behaving in the right way, or according to the way other people behave: The teacher was finding it difficult to keep the kids in line.27into line into a situation where someone or something starts to behave similarly to other people and do what is expected: Eventually all the Republicans fell into line and voted yes. The state legislature will have to bring state laws into line with the Supreme Court’s ruling.28out of line a)if someone’s behavior is out of line, it is not appropriate in a particular situation: I thought what Kenny said was way out of line. b)not obeying someone, or doing something that you should not do: Anybody who steps out of line will be in deep trouble. c)not fair or correct in size or amount when compared with other similar things: line with The CEO’s pay is way out of line with profits. d)not forming the desired straight line with each other, or with other people or things29be in line for something to be very likely to get or be given something: Claire’s in line for a promotion. We’re third in line on the waiting list.30on the line if something important is on the line, there is a risk that you might lose it or something bad could happen to it: With the game on the line, Kansas City scored two touchdowns in five minutes. I’ve already put myself on the line for you once.31down/along the line spoken later, after an activity or situation has been continuing for a period of time: Somewhere along the line, we just stopped talking to each other.32WAR [countable usually plural] a row of military defenses in front of the area that an army controls during a war: The base was stationed inside enemy lines. They were sent to the front lines to fight.33COMPANY [countable] a company that provides a system for moving goods by sea, air, road, etc.: He runs a transatlantic shipping line.34be in the line of fire (also be on the firing line) a)to be one of the people who could be criticized or blamed for something: She’s already on the firing line for her earlier comments. b)to be in a place where a bullet, etc. might hit you35the first/last/next etc. in a line of something used to talk about a series of things: This is the latest in a long line of political scandals.36SPORTS [countable] a row of players in a game such as football or rugby that is formed when they move into position before play starts again37IN A COMPANY/ORGANIZATION the line [singular] the series of levels of authority within an organization: The information was slowly passed down the line.38DRUG [countable] informal an amount of an illegal drug in powder form, arranged in a line before it is taken39FAMILY [singular] the people that came or existed before you in your family: She comes from a long line of actors.[Origin: 1200–1300 Partly from Old French ligne, from Latin linum flax; partly from Old English line] → see also draw the line (at something) at draw1 (5), hook, line, and sinker at hook1 (6), lay something on the line at lay1 (10), online, picket line at picket1 (1), read between the lines at read1 (12) noun | verb
lineline2 ●●○ verb 1[transitive] to form a layer that covers the inside or inner surface of something, or to make something do this: The birds used small leaves to line their nests.line something with something The jacket is lined with fur.2[transitive] to form rows along something, especially along the edge of something: Crowds lined the route to watch the parade.be lined with something The street is lined with shops and boutiques.3line your own pockets to make yourself richer by doing something dishonest4[intransitive, transitive] to hit a ball straight with a lot of force in baseballline up phrasal verb1line somebody/something ↔ up to form a row or arrange people or things in a row: Hundreds of customers lined up in front of the store. The teacher lined the students up to go to the playground.2line somebody/something ↔ up to make arrangements so that something will happen or that someone will be available for an event: I’ve already lined up a job for January.3line something ↔ up to put things in the correct position in relation to each other: Make sure you line up the edges.4be lining up to do something if people are lining up to do something, many people are very eager to do it → see also line-upline up against somebody/something phrasal verb if people line up against someone or something, they all oppose that person or thing: Democrats quickly lined up against the tax cuts.line up behind somebody phrasal verb if people line up behind someone, many people support that person