line

Ⅰ.

line [1] ► NOUN 1) a long, narrow mark or band. 2) a length of cord, wire, etc. serving a purpose. 3) a row or connected series of people or things. 4) a row of written or printed words. 5) a direction, course, or channel. 6) a telephone connection. 7) a railway track or route. 8) a notional limit or boundary. 9) a connected series of military defences facing an enemy force. 10) an arrangement of soldiers or ships in a column or line formation. 11) a wrinkle in the skin. 12) a contour or outline considered as a feature of design or composition. 13) a range of commercial goods. 14) a sphere of activity. 15) (lines) a way of doing something: thinking along the same lines. 16) (lines) the words of an actor's part. 17) (lines) a number of repetitions of a sentence written out as a school punishment.

► VERB 1) stand or be positioned at intervals along. 2) (line up) arrange in a row. 3) (line up) have (someone or something) prepared. 4) (lined) marked or covered with lines.

● come (or bring) into line — Cf. ↑come into line

● the end of the line — Cf. ↑the end of the line

● hold the line — Cf. ↑hold the line

● in line — Cf. ↑in line

● in line for — Cf. ↑in line for

● in (or o ut of) line with — Cf. ↑o ut of line with

● lay (or put) it on the line — Cf. ↑put it on the line

● line of fire — Cf. ↑line of fire

● on the line — Cf. ↑on the line

● out of line — Cf. ↑out of line

ORIGIN Old English, from Latin linum 'flax' ; later influenced by Old French ligne, from Latin linea.

Ⅱ.

line [2] ► VERB ▪ cover the inner surface of (something) with a layer of different material.

● line one's pocket — Cf. ↑line one's pocket

ORIGIN from obsolete line «flax», with reference to the use of linen for linings.