dragline: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Industrial / Zoology
Quick answer
What does “dragline” mean?
A heavy rope, cable, or chain used for pulling or dragging heavy objects.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A heavy rope, cable, or chain used for pulling or dragging heavy objects.
1. A very large type of excavator with a long boom and a cable-suspended bucket, used in mining. 2. In spider anatomy, a non-sticky silk thread used to form the main framework of an orb web. 3. A technique in craniomaxillofacial surgery using surgical wires. 4. A method of hauling logs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or spelling. Both varieties use the term in its core and extended senses. The spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Primarily associated with heavy industry (mining, quarrying, construction) and technical contexts in both regions.
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday language. Highest frequency in technical reports, mining/construction industries, and biological texts concerning spiders. Slightly more common in American English due to larger scale surface mining operations.
Grammar
How to Use “dragline” in a Sentence
The [noun] used a dragline to [verb] the [object].A dragline was deployed for the [task].The [spider] spins a dragline from its [body part].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dragline” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The engineers will need to dragline the entire area before construction can begin.
- They draglined the canal to remove sediment.
American English
- The company plans to dragline the site starting next quarter.
- The old pond was draglined to restore its depth.
adjective
British English
- The dragline operator checked his controls.
- They reviewed the dragline excavation method.
American English
- The dragline bucket capacity is measured in cubic yards.
- Dragline mining is common in the Powder River Basin.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to capital equipment in mining or large-scale earthmoving projects, with significant cost and operational implications.
Academic
Used in engineering (mechanical design), geology/mining studies, and arachnology (spider biology).
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by those in related trades or enthusiasts.
Technical
Precise term for a specific type of cable-operated excavator or a type of spider silk with high tensile strength.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dragline”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dragline”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dragline”
- Confusing 'dragline' with 'drag racing'. Using it as a general synonym for any cable. Misspelling as 'drag line' (though sometimes hyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one word ('dragline'), though you may occasionally see the hyphenated form 'drag-line', especially in older texts.
A dragline excavator uses a hoist rope system with a bucket suspended from a long boom, which is dragged towards the machine. A standard hydraulic excavator uses a rigid arm with a bucket that curls directly towards the cab.
Yes, though it's specialist usage. To 'dragline' means to excavate or clear using a dragline excavator.
No. The dragline forms the strong, non-sticky radial framework of the web. The sticky spiral threads for catching prey are laid down afterwards.
A heavy rope, cable, or chain used for pulling or dragging heavy objects.
Dragline is usually technical / industrial / zoology in register.
Dragline: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdraɡlʌɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdræɡˌlaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DRAGon pulling a heavy LINE (rope). A dragLINE pulls (drags) things with a line.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS A HEAVY LINE (The dragline embodies brute pulling force).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would you most likely encounter the term 'dragline' used to describe a type of silk?