line · n
line (TELEPHONE)
B2 the connection between telephones
Dictionary examples:
I've got Chris Foster on the line for you. (13.9)
That line is busy – may I take a message? (19.3)
Please hold the line. I'll see if she's available. (19.6)
line (PRODUCT)
C1 a type of product that a company sells
Dictionary examples:
They're advertising a new line of garden furniture. (28.0)
Our new sportswear line will be in stores shortly. (58.3)
a fine line
C1 a very small difference between two things that seem very different
Dictionary examples:
There's a fine line between courage and foolishness. (62.5)
line (ROW)
C2 a row of people or things
Dictionary examples:
a line of trees (8.7)
line (BORDER)
C2 the border of an area within a country
Dictionary examples:
the city/state/county line (30.3)
line (EDGE)
C2 a long mark on an area where a sport is played that shows an edge or measurement
Dictionary examples:
the 50-yard line (14.4)
the foul line (45.9)
line (APPROACH)
C2 a way of dealing with or thinking about something or someone
Dictionary examples:
Some members of Congress disagree with their party's line on tax cuts. (35.8)
The police are confident that this new line of investigation will lead them to the murderer. (42.4)
I couldn’t follow his line of reasoning. (43.6)
line (MILITARY)
C2 a row of positions used to defend against enemy attack, especially the ones closest to enemy positions
Dictionary examples:
They were taken prisoner while on a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines. (70.7)
(be) on the line
C2 If someone's job, reputation, life, etc., is on the line, they may lose it.
Dictionary examples:
If we don't win the contract, all our jobs are on the line. (21.3)
the bottom line
C2 the most important fact of final result in an activity, discussion, or situation
Dictionary examples:
The bottom line is that they lost the game. (26.6)
along the lines of sth
C2 based on and similar to something
Dictionary examples:
He gave a talk along the lines of the one he gave in Oxford. (26.4)
be in line with sth
C2 to be similar to and suitable for something
Dictionary examples:
They were offered a pay increase in line with inflation. (42.7)
down the line
C2 in the future
Dictionary examples:
Lots of things will have changed a few years down the road. (17.0)
draw the line (at sth)
C2 If someone says they know where to draw the line, they are talking about knowing at what point an activity or situation becomes unacceptable because it is wrong or too extreme
Dictionary examples:
I’ll do what I can to help a friend, but I draw the line when someone asks me to lie for them. (36.8)
(be) out of line
C2 If someone's actions or words are out of line, they are beyond what is considered acceptable in that situation.
Dictionary examples:
You can disagree with her, but calling her dishonest was way out of line. (43.3)
line (LONG MARK)
A2 a long, thin mark
Dictionary examples:
The teacher's red line on my test made me cry. (0.0)
My brother drew a line on my face while I slept. (0.0)
I found a line of chocolate on my shirt after lunch. (0.0)
a straight line (18.7)
Sign your name on the dotted line. (28.2)
line (RAILROAD)
B1 a train route or railroad track
Dictionary examples:
The train conductor got lost and accidentally created a new line. (0.0)
The train line was so curvy, passengers got dizzy just looking at the map. (0.0)
The train line to the moon was delayed due to space traffic. (0.0)
the Hudson Line/the Raritan Valley Line (5.4)
Wet leaves on the track delayed trains on both lines this morning. (53.6)
rail/commuter lines (60.5)
line (PEOPLE WAITING)
B1 a group of people standing one behind the other who are waiting for something
Dictionary examples:
The line for coffee was so long, people started brewing their own! (0.0)
The line for the bathroom was so long, people started doing the potty dance! (0.0)
The concert line was so long, people started their own music festival! (0.0)
Are you in line? (9.9)
There was a long line at the movie theater. (14.8)
I had to wait/stand in line for three hours to get tickets. (18.2)
Just get in/on line and wait your turn like everyone else. (26.9)
line (WORDS)
B1 a row of words on a page
Dictionary examples:
The first line of my job application was 'Hire me or else!' (0.0)
The teacher's eyes popped out when he read the first line of my essay. (0.0)
I read the first line of my textbook and fell asleep immediately. (0.0)
Can you read the next line, please, Sonia? (30.7)
The same line is repeated throughout the poem. (33.0)
read between the lines
C2 If you read between the lines, you understand what something really means when it hasn't been directly said or written.
Dictionary examples:
Reading between the lines, it was obvious that something was wrong. (32.0)