—line /laɪn/
noun (APPROACH TO SUBJECT)
C2 [C] a way of dealing with or thinking about something or someone:
» The government's official line has always been to refuse to negotiate with terrorists.» The courts should take a tougher line with (= punish more severely) sex offenders.» Several Labour MPs disagree with their party's line on taxation.» What sort of line (= method of arguing) do you think we should take in the pay negotiations?» The police are confident that this new line of inquiry will lead them to the murderer.» It seems inevitable that the country will be divided along ethnic lines.Thesaurus+: ↑Ways of achieving thingsThesaurus+: ↑Opinions, beliefs and points of viewline of reasoning, thinking, etc.C2 a way of thinking about a particular subject:
» We cannot agree with their line of reasoning.• • •
Extra Examples:» Her speech deviated little from the official party line.» The government can't be seen to be taking a soft line with criminals.» Ministers who wouldn't toe the party line were swiftly got rid of.» The government is continuing to take a tough line on terrorism.» The new head teacher takes a tough line on bullying.noun (ROW)
C2 [C] a group of people or things arranged in a row:
» a line of trees» The prisoners formed a line against the wall.Thesaurus+: ↑Things collected in lines or ringsF0 [C] US (UK queue) a group of people standing one behind the other who are waiting for something:
» Just get in line and wait your turn like everyone else.» I had to wait/stand in line for three hours to get tickets.See picture: (UK) queue/(US) line 
Thesaurus+: ↑Things collected in lines or ringsa long line of
F0 a series of people or things that follow each other in time:
» She is the latest in a long line of controversial leaders.» He comes from a long line of doctors (= a lot of his relatives were doctors before him).Thesaurus+: ↑Order and sequence , ↑Simultaneous and consecutive• • •
Extra Examples:» A long line of traffic edged its way forward.» A ragged line of people were waiting at the bus stop.» There was a solid line of traffic in front of us.» We were asked to stand in two lines three metres apart.» She arranged all her teddies in a line on the carpet.noun (WORDS)
B1 [C] a row of words that form part of a text:
» We could get more lines on the page if we reduced the type size.» The computer screen displays 80 characters per line.Thesaurus+: ↑Pieces of writingF0 [C] a short series of musical notes
Thesaurus+: ↑Technical music termsF0 [C usually plural] the words that an actor speaks when performing in a film, play, etc.:
» I only had two lines in the whole play.» She hasn't learned her lines yet, and we've got our first rehearsal tomorrow.» I'm terrified of forgetting my lines.Thesaurus+: ↑Casting, roles and scriptslines [plural] UKF0 a punishment for school students in which a sentence has to be written repeatedly:
» She got 200 lines for swearing at her teacher.Thesaurus+: ↑Punishing and punishments , ↑Punishing by causing pain , ↑Hitting and beatingnoun [C usually singular] (JOB)
► F0 the type of job someone does: » "What line of work are you in?" "I'm a teacher."» You meet some very interesting people in my line of business.Thesaurus+: ↑Jobs, careers and professions , ↑Workingnoun [C] (COMPANY)
► F0 a company that transports people or goods: » a shipping lineThesaurus+: ↑Businesses and enterprisesnoun [C] (DIVISION)
► C2 a long, thin and sometimes imaginary mark that forms the edge, border, or limit of something: » That ball was definitely in! It was nowhere near the line!» The police couldn't arrest him because he'd fled across the state line.» For many television viewers the dividing line between fact and fiction is becoming increasingly blurred.See picture: line on a sports field Thesaurus+: ↑Edges and extremities of objects , ↑Surfaces of objects
• • •
Extra Examples:» The river serves as the line of demarcation between the two counties.» This path marks the dividing line between my land and my neighbour's.» The president said NATO expansion will finally erase the boundary line in Europe artificially created by the Cold War.» The ball rose in a high arc and fell behind the boundary line.» He thought the ball had bounced on the line, but the umpire said it was out.noun [C] (GOODS)
► C1 a range of similar things that are for sale: » There are discounts on many items from our older lines.» I was shown all their new lines.Thesaurus+: ↑Products and producers , ↑Buying and selling in generalnoun [C] (LONG MARK)
► A2 a long, thin mark on the surface of something: » a straight line» Sign your name on the dotted line.» She was very old and her face was covered with lines.» My legs felt all wobbly when I stood up and I couldn't walk in a straight line (= walk without moving to the side while moving forward).Thesaurus+: ↑Patterns and shapes• • •
Extra Examples:» Apply a fine line of highlighter along the middle of your top lip.» Draw a horizontal line across the bottom of the page.» Cut on or just inside the pencil line.» Draw a pair of parallel lines.» Join the points A and B together on the diagram with a straight line.noun [C] (MILITARY)
► C2 a row of positions used to defend against enemy attack, especially the ones closest to enemy positions: » They were taken prisoner while on a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines.» FIGURATIVE In a game of football, the goalkeeper is the last line of defence.Thesaurus+: ↑Places involved in military activity• • •
Extra Examples:» Journalists had insisted on getting to the front line of the battle, heedless of the risks.» The troops took up their battle positions at the front line.» We managed to break through enemy lines.» There was panic on the enemy lines.» We simply had to wait in our lines.noun [C] (PHONE)
► B2 a connection to a phone system: » I'm afraid your line's been disconnected because your last bill hasn't been paid.» If you want to air your opinions live on the radio, the lines will be open (= you can phone) from eight o'clock.» I've got Chris Foster on the line for you. Do you want to take it now or call her back later?» FORMAL Please hold the line (= wait). I'll see if she's available.See picture: telephone line Thesaurus+: ↑Telephone equipment
• • •
Extra Examples:» If you'll hold the line a moment I'll hand you over to someone who might be able to help.» She's on the phone at the moment - will you hold the line?» I've got John on the line for you.» His line's busy at the moment - will you call back later?» My mother came on the line to tell me to eat properly.noun [C] (RAILWAY)
► B1 (the route followed by) a railway track: » The train was delayed, apparently due to leaves on the line.» The Northern Line is the worst on the London Underground.» Main line services can be very quick, but travelling on the branch lines is much slower.See picture: (UK) railway line/(US) railroad line Thesaurus+: ↑Railways and railway lines
• • •
Extra Examples:» Due to wet leaves on the line, this train will arrive an hour late.» The rebels had dynamited the railway line .» The east coast railway line has been electrified.» Trains may be subject to delay on the Northern Line - we apologize for any inconvenience caused.» the main line between Belfast and Dublinnoun [C] (REMARK)
► F0 a remark that is intended to entertain, persuade, or deceive: » a speech full of memorable lines» He keeps giving me that line about not being able to do any work because his computer isn't working properly.» Who was it who came up with that famous line about "lies, damned lies and statistics"?Thesaurus+: ↑Remarks and remarking , ↑Expressing and asking opinionsnoun [C] (SHAPE)
► F0 the shape of something that has been designed or created: » They have a reputation for designing cars with elegant aerodynamic lines.Thesaurus+: ↑Patterns and shapesnoun [C] (SUPPORT)
► F0 a long, strong, thin piece of material, such as string, rope, or wire, used to support something: » I'd hung the washing out on the clothes line.» Can you feel the fish tugging on the line?Thesaurus+: ↑Cords, ropes, cables and stringverb [T] (COVER) ↑Verb Endings for line
► F0 to cover the inside surface of something: » I lined the drawers with old wallpaper.» How much would it cost to have this jacket lined?» Full-length mirrors lined each wall of the bathroom.Thesaurus+: ↑Covering and adding layersverb [T] (FORM ROW) ↑Verb Endings for line
► C2 to form a row along the side of something: » Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the presidential procession pass by.» Police lined the route of the demonstration.» country lanes lined with treesThesaurus+: ↑Sitting and standingThesaurus+: ↑Parts of geometrical shapes- bed of nails
- bed of roses
- be doing
- be doing/in articles
- be done and dusted
- be dotty about sb/sth
- Bedouin
- be downhill
- be (down) in black and white
- be down in black and white
- be down in the mouth
- be down on sb
- be down on your luck
- be down to sb
- bedpan
- bedpost
- bedraggled
- be draped in/with sth
- bedridden
- be dripping with sth
- be driving at sth
- bedrock
- bedroom
- bedroom community
- -bedroomed