linear accelerator noun

An apparatus in which electrons are accelerated while travelling down a metal tube or tubes, eg by means of electromagnetic waves

linear aerospike engine noun

A rocket engine with a specially designed nozzle (aerospike nozzle) that allows the exhaust gases to expand and so to be used most efficiently

linear B noun

An ancient script (c.1400BC) found in Crete, deciphered as a form of Greek seven centuries earlier than any previously known

linear equation noun

An equation with more than two terms, of which none is raised above the power one

linear motor noun

An electric motor which produces direct thrust in a linear, rather than rotational, direction

linear perspective noun

That part of perspective which regards only the positions, magnitudes and forms of the objects delineated

linear programming noun

Programming which enables a computer to give an optimum result when fed with a number of unrelated variables, used in determining the most efficient arrangement of eg an industrial process

lineˈbacker noun (American football)

A defensive player whose position is just behind the line of scrimmage

line block noun

A printing block consisting of black and white only, without gradations of tone

line breeding noun

The mating of closely related animals in order to preserve the characteristics of a common ancestor

line dancing noun

Dancing in which participants form rows without partners and follow a set pattern of steps to country-and-western music

line drawing noun

A drawing in pen or pencil using lines only, without gradations of tone

lineˈ-engravˈer noun

lineˈ-engravˈing noun

1. The process of engraving in lines, steel or copperplate engraving
2. An engraving done in this way

line feed noun (computing)

A control character used to move to the next line on a printer or screen

lineˈ-fenceˈ noun (US)

A farm-boundary fence

lineˈ-fish noun

One caught with a line rather than a net

lineˈ-fishˈer or line-fishˈerman noun

lineˈ-fishˈing noun

line-item veto noun (US)

The power, esp of a US President, to reject an individual provision (line item) in a piece of proposed legislation without rejecting the bill as a whole

line judge noun (sport)

An official whose job is to watch a line to see on which side of it the ball, etc falls

lineˈman noun

1. A person who attends to the lines of a railway, telegraph, telephone, or power wires, etc
2. A player in the line of scrimmage (American football)

line management noun

A system of management in which each line manager is responsible for exercising authority and responsibility within a formalized hierarchy

line of battle noun

Arrangement in line to meet the enemy

lineˈ-of-battˈle-ship noun

A ship fit for the line of battle, a battleship

line of beauty noun

A curve like a drawn-out S, as described by the English painter William Hogarth

line of country noun

One's field of study or interest

line of credit noun

The maximum amount of credit that a customer is permitted

line of fire noun

The range or scope of a weapon, etc

line of force noun

A line drawn in a magnetic or electric field so that its direction at every point gives the direction of magnetic or electric force at that point

line of sight noun

1. The straight line between the eye and the object on which it is focused, or between two objects along which they are visible from each other (also line of vision)
2. The straight line along which the eye looks, in any direction
3. The straight line between a transmitter and the receiving antenna (telecommunications)

lineˈ-out noun

(in Rugby Union) a method of restarting play when the ball has gone into touch, the forwards of each team forming a line facing the touch-line and trying to catch or deflect the ball when it is thrown in

line printer noun

A machine for rapid printing of computer output, a line at a time

line scanning noun (image technol)

A method of scanning in which the scanning spot sequentially traverses the image in a series of straight lines

lineˈ-shooter noun (slang)

Someone who shoots a line (see shoot¹)

linesman /līnzˈ/ noun

1. A lineman
2. A soldier in a regiment of the line
3. In football, an official who marks the spot at which the ball goes into touch, rules when a player is offside, etc (officially assistant referee)
4. In tennis, an official whose job is to watch a line to see on which side of it the ball falls, a line judge

line squall noun

One of a chain of squalls occurring along a travelling line, with rise and sudden change of wind, rise of pressure and fall of temperature

lineˈ-storm noun (US)

An equinoctial storm

lineˈ-up noun

1. Arrangement in line
2. Putting or coming into line
3. A queue
4. An identification parade
5. The bill of artistes appearing in a show
6. A list of team members

above the line

(of advertising) through the media and by poster

all along the line

At every point (lit or figurative)

below the line

(of advertising) by such means as free gifts, direct mailings to households, etc

bring into line

To cause to conform

down the line

1. Of a shot in tennis, football, etc, travelling parallel to and close to the side of the court, pitch, etc
2. In the future (informal)

draw the line see under draw

end of the line (figurative)

A point beyond which it is useless or impossible to proceed

fall into line

To conform

Fraunhofer('s) lines

Dark lines crossing the spectrum, from the Bavarian optician Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787–1826)

get a line on (informal)

To get information about

give line (angling)

To allow apparent freedom in order to secure at last (also figurative)

hold the line see under hold¹

in line

1. In a straight line
2. In agreement or harmony (with with)
3. In the running (with for)
4. In contention (with for)
5. In a line of succession (with to)
6. Under control

lay it on the line (informal)

To speak out firmly and frankly

lay or put on the line

To risk or stake (a reputation, etc)

line up

1. To bring into alignment
2. To form a line
3. To make a stand (in support of, or against)
4. To gather together in readiness
5. To secure or arrange (for a person)

on the line (art)

Hanging on the level of the eyes

on or along the lines of

In a (specified) manner or direction

out of line

1. Not aligned
2. Impudent
3. Exhibiting unacceptable behaviour

read between the lines

To infer what is not explicitly stated

shoot a line see under shoot¹

toe the line see under toe