line

Universal Words noun, verb noun long thin mark 1 [C] a long thin mark on a surface: a straight / wavy / dotted / diagonal line * parallel / vertical / horizontal lines * Draw a thick black line across the page. 2 [C] a long thin mark on the ground to show the limit or border of sth, especially of a playing area in some sports: The ball went over the line. * Be careful not to cross the line (= the broken line painted down the middle of the road). * Your feet must be behind the line when you serve (= in tennis). * They were all waiting on the starting line. seealsoFINISHINGLINE, GOALLINE, SIDELINE, TOUCHLINE 3 [C] a mark like a line on sb's skin that people usually get as they get older SYNWRINKLE: He has fine lines around his eyes. division 4 [C] an imaginary limit or border between one place or thing and another: He was convicted of illegally importing weapons across state lines. * a district / county line * lines of longitude and latitude seealsoCOASTLINE, DATELINE, DIVIDINGLINE, PICKETLINE, TREELINE, WATERLINE 5 [C] the division between one area of thought or behaviour and another: We want to cut across lines of race, sex and religion. * There is a fine line between showing interest in what someone is doing and interfering in it. shape 6 [C] the edge, outline or shape of sb/sth: I prefer simple lines in skirts and trousers. * He traced the line of her jaw with his finger. * a beautiful sports car with sleek lines row 7 [C] a row of people or things next to each other or behind each other: a long line of trees * The children all stood in a line. * They were stuck in a line of traffic. * to stand / wait in line for sth * A line formed at each teller window. in factory 8 [C] a system of making sth, in which the product moves from one worker to the next until it is finished seealsoASSEMBLYLINE, PRODUCTIONLINE series 9 [C,usually sing.] a series of people, things or events that follow one another in time: She came from a long line of doctors. * to pass sth down through the male / female line * This novel is the latest of a long line of thrillers that he has written. * That was the first in a whole line of mistakes and bad decisions. 10 [C,usually sing.] a series of people in order of importance: Orders came down the line from the very top. * a line of command * He is second in line to the chairman. * to be next in line to the throne seealsoLINEMANAGER words 11 [C] (abbreviation l) a row of words on a page or the empty space where they can be written; the words of a song or poem: Look at line 5 of the text. * Write the title of your essay on the top line. * I can only remember the first two lines of that song. seealsoBOTTOMLINE 12 [C] the words spoken by an actor in a play or film/movie: to study / learn your lines * a line from the film 'Casablanca' 13 (lines) [pl.] (BrE) (in some schools) a punishment in which a child has to write out a particular sentence a number of times: The teacher gave me 100 lines. 14 [C] (informal) a remark, especially when sb says it to achieve a particular purpose: Don't give me that line about having to work late again. * (BrE) That's the worst chat-up line I've ever heard. rope / wire / pipe 15 [C] a long piece of rope, thread, etc., especially when it is used for a particular purpose: a fishing line * He hung the towels out on the line (= clothes line). * They dropped the sails and threw a line to a man on the dock. seealsoLIFELINE 16 [C] a pipe or thick wire that carries water, gas or electricity from one place to another seealsoPOWERLINE telephone 17 [C] a telephone connection; a particular telephone number: Your bill includes line rental. * The company's lines have been jammed (= busy) all day with people making complaints. * I was talking to John when the line suddenly went dead. * If you hold the line (= stay on the telephone and wait), I'll see if she is available. seealsoHELPLINE, HOTLINE, PARTYLINE, OFF-LINE, ONLINE railway / railroad 18 [C] a railway/railroad track; a section of a railway/railroad system: The train was delayed because a tree had fallen across the line. * a branch line * the East Coast line to Edinburgh seealsoMAINLINE route / direction 19 [C,usually sing.] the direction that sb/sth is moving or situated in: Just keep going in a straight line; you can't miss it. * The town is in a direct line between London and the coast. * Please move; you're right in my line of vision (= the direction I am looking in). * They followed the line of the river for three miles. * Be careful to stay out of the line of fire (= the direction sb is shooting in). 20 [C] a route from one place to another especially when it is used for a particular purpose: Their aim was to block guerrilla supply lines. attitude / argument 21 [C,usually sing.] an attitude or a belief, especially one that sb states publicly: The government is taking a firm line on terrorism. * The MP supported the official line on education. seealsoHARDLINE, PARTYLINE 22 [C] a method or way of doing or thinking about sth: I don't follow your line of reasoning. * She decided to try a different line of argument (= way of persuading sb of sth). * sb's first line of attack / defence * The police are pursuing a new line of enquiry / inquiry (= way of finding out information). activity 23 [sing.] a type or area of business, activity or interest: My line of work pays pretty well. * You can't do much in the art line without training. seealsoSIDELINE product 24 [C] a type of product: We are starting a new line in casual clothes. * Some lines sell better than others. transport 25 [C] (often used in names) a company that provides transport for people or goods: a shipping / bus line seealsoAIRLINE soldiers 26 [C] a row or series of military defences where the soldiers are fighting during a war: The regiment was sent to fight in the front line (= the position nearest the enemy). * They were trapped behind enemy lines (= in the area controlled by the enemy). drugs 27 [C] (slang) an amount of COCAINE that is spread out in a thin line, ready to take IDIOMS along / down the line (informal) at some point during an activity or a process: Somewhere along the line a large amount of money went missing. * We'll make a decision on that further down the line. along / on (the)...lines 1 (informal) in the way that is mentioned: The new system will operate along the same lines as the old one. * They voted along class lines. 2 (informal) similar to the way or thing that is mentioned: Those aren't his exact words, but he said something along those lines. * The hotel was built along the lines of a French chateau. be on line 1 to be working or functioning: The new working methods will come on line in June. * It took five hours to get all the computer terminals back on line. 2 using a computer; communicating with other people by computer: Most schools will be on line by the year 2000. seealsoONLINE bring sb/sth, come, get, fall, etc. into line (with sb/sth) to behave or make sb/sth behave in the same way as other people or how they should behave: Britain must be brought into line with the rest of Europe on taxes. in (a) line (with sth) in a position that forms a straight line with sth: An eclipse happens when the earth and moon are in line with the sun. in line for sth likely to get sth: She is in line for promotion. in the line of duty while doing a job: A policeman was injured in the line of duty yesterday. in line with sth similar to sth or so that one thing is closely connected with another: Annual pay increases will be in line with inflation. lay it on the line (informal) to tell sb clearly what you think, especially when they will not like what you say: The manager laid it on the line-some people would have to lose their jobs. (choose, follow, take, etc.) the line of least resistance (to choose, etc.) the easiest way doing sth (put sth) on the line (informal) at risk: If we don't make a profit, my job is on the line. out of line (with sb/sth) 1 not forming a straight line 2 different from sth: London prices are way out of line with the rest of the country. 3 (AmE) = OUTOFORDER walk / tread a fine / thin line to be in a difficult or dangerous situation where you could easily make a mistake: He was walking a fine line between being funny and being rude. moreatBATTLEn., DRAWv., ENDn., FIRINGLINE, FRONTLINE, HARDadj., HOOKn., JUMPv., OVERSTEP, PITCHv., READv., SIGNv., STEPv., TOEv. verb [VN] cover inside 1 [oftenpassive] ~ sth (with sth) to cover the inside of sth with a layer of another material to keep it clean, make it stronger, etc: Line the pan with greaseproof paper. 2 to form a layer on the inside of sth: the membranes that line the nose form rows 3 [oftenpassive] ~ sth (with sth) to form lines or rows along sth: Crowds of people lined the streets to watch the race. * The walls were lined with books. seealsoLINED IDIOMS line your (own) / sb's pockets to get richer or make sb richer, especially by taking unfair advantage of a situation or by being dishonest: Health services are lining the drug companies' pockets, according to the report. PHRASALVERBS line up to stand in a line or row; to form a QUEUE/LINE: Line up, children! * Cars lined up waiting to board the ship. line sb/sth<->up 1 to arrange people or things in a straight line or row: The suspects were lined up against the wall. * He lined the bottles up along the shelf. 2 to arrange for an event or activity to happen, or arrange for sb to be available to do sth: Mark had a job lined up when he left college. * I've got a lot lined up this week (= I'm very busy). * She's lined up a live band for the party. line sth<->up (with sth) to move one thing into a correct position in relation to another thing: To get good TV reception, the dish must be accurately lined up with the satellite.