line

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 mark that is long relative to its width

• “He drew a line on the chart”
• “The substance produced characteristic lines on the spectroscope”

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”

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”

the methodical process of logical reasoning

• “I can”

a conductor for transmitting electrical or optical signals or electric power

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”

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”

the road consisting of railroad track and roadbed

a telephone connection

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”

something (as a cord or rope) that is long and thin and flexible

• “a washing line”

(ice hockey) a play in which one team has a numerical advantage over the other as a result of penalties

• “the team was unable to capitalize on the power play”

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”

a particular kind of product or merchandise

• “a nice line of shoes”

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

the maximum credit that a customer is allowed

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

• “she was humming an air from Beethoven”

a short personal letter

• “drop me a line when you get there”

a conceptual separation or demarcation

• “there is a narrow line between sanity and insanity”

mechanical system in a factory whereby an article is conveyed through sites at which successive operations are performed on it

be in line with; form a line along

• “trees line the riverbank”

cover the interior of (garments)

• “line the gloves”

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”

reinforce with fabric

• “lined books are more enduring”