ligne: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “ligne” mean?
A long, narrow mark or band.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, narrow mark or band.
A series of people or things arranged in a sequence; a connection or boundary; a field of activity or business.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling differences in compounds: BrE 'queue' vs AmE 'line' for 'line of people'. Some vocabulary differences: BrE 'railway line' vs AmE 'railroad line'.
Connotations
No significant difference in core connotations. Both share the same range of meanings.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “ligne” in a Sentence
Line [sth] up.Line up.Line [sth] with [sth].The [N] line.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ligne” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Please line the shelves with paper.
- Crowds began to line the route.
American English
- He lined the drawers with cedar.
- Fans lined up for hours to get tickets.
adjective
British English
- We need a line drawing for the manual.
- He's a line manager in manufacturing.
American English
- It was a line drive to center field.
- The line judge made the call.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a type of product ('product line'), responsibility ('line manager'), or final profit/loss ('bottom line').
Academic
Used in geometry, literature ('line of poetry'), or argumentation ('line of reasoning').
Everyday
Common for queues, physical marks, phone connections, and borders.
Technical
In engineering ('assembly line'), computing ('command line'), telecommunications ('landline'), or fishing ('fishing line').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ligne”
- Incorrect article use: 'He works in *the* line of finance.' (Correct: '...in *a* line of finance' or '...in the *finance* line').
- Spelling confusion with 'lion'.
- Using 'queue' in AmE contexts where 'line' is standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily countable (e.g., 'two lines', 'several lines'), but some specific meanings can be uncountable, like 'line' as a concept in art.
'Line' often implies a single file or a sequence in one dimension (front to back). 'Row' implies multiple things arranged side-by-side horizontally, like seats in a theatre.
It has two main uses: 1) To place things in a line or cover the inside surface of something ('line the drawers'). 2) To form a row along something ('trees line the road').
Use 'queue' for a line of people waiting for something (AmE uses 'line'). For all other meanings (telephone line, product line, etc.), 'line' is used in both varieties.
A long, narrow mark or band.
Ligne is usually neutral in register.
Ligne: in British English it is pronounced /laɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /laɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “read between the lines”
- “toe the line”
- “draw the line”
- “in the line of duty”
- “drop someone a line”
- “on the line”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a lion's spine – it's a long, straight LINE down its back.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONNECTION IS A LINE (e.g., 'lines of communication'), SUCCESSION IS A LINE (e.g., 'a line of kings'), and BOUNDARY IS A LINE (e.g., 'cross the line').
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'the bottom line' primarily refer to?