line
A1All registers – core, everyday word
Definition
Meaning
A long, thin mark or continuous extent of length.
A range of related products/services, a written or spoken sequence, a connection or route (e.g., railway, telephone), a formation of people, a boundary or limit, a particular way of thinking or approach.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Noun 'line' is highly polysemous. Many meanings are extensions of the core concept of a thin, elongated mark or connection. The verb often relates to covering or arranging in a row.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: 'queue' is strongly preferred for a line of people. US: 'line' is standard for a queue. UK: 'on the line' can mean 'at risk'. US: 'on the line' often means 'on the phone'. Spelling: derivative words like 'lineage' differ ('lineage' UK & US, but 'linage' US also for newspaper lines).
Connotations
UK 'queue' implies orderliness and fairness. US 'line' for a queue is neutral. 'Draw a line' has similar strong idiomatic force in both.
Frequency
As a noun, it is extremely high frequency in both. The verb 'to line' (e.g., 'line a drawer') is medium frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
line (N) with (N)line up (phr v)be lined with (N)fall into line (with)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “read between the lines”
- “toe the line”
- “draw the line (at)”
- “drop someone a line”
- “in the line of duty”
- “out of line”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to a range of products ('our new line'), a department ('line management'), or profit ('bottom line').
Academic
In math/geometry ('line segment'), in text ('line of argument/evidence'), in biology ('cell line').
Everyday
Queueing, phone connection, a mark on paper, a wrinkle on skin.
Technical
In computing ('command line'), engineering ('power line'), fishing ('fishing line'), theatre ('lines of a script').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She lined the shelves with newspaper.
- The street was lined with cheering crowds.
- Let's line up for the tickets.
American English
- He lined the trash can with a plastic bag.
- The path is lined with oak trees.
- We need to line up the chairs before the meeting.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial use of 'line')
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial use of 'line')
adjective
British English
- She handed me a piece of lined paper.
- The liner train was cancelled.
American English
- Please write on lined notebook paper.
- He works on the line crew for the electric company.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Draw a straight line.
- Please wait in line.
- I'll drop you a line next week.
- The company is launching a new product line.
- His job is not really in my line of work.
- The trees line the road to the village.
- The government's policy is in line with EU recommendations.
- She refused to toe the party line during the debate.
- There's a fine line between bravery and recklessness.
- The actor forgot his lines during the crucial soliloquy.
- The article cleverly read between the lines of the official statement.
- They traced his aristocratic lineage back to the 12th century.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LION (sounds like 'line') walking in a straight LINE.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEQUENCE IS A LINE (e.g., 'line of thought'), CONNECTION IS A LINE (e.g., 'hotline'), LIMIT IS A LINE (e.g., 'cross the line').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'line of work' as 'линия работы'. Use 'сфера деятельности' or 'профессия'.
- Russian 'очередь' is almost always 'queue' in UK English, 'line' in US English.
- 'Phone line' is not 'линия телефона'. It's 'телефонная линия' or связь.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'in line with' (according to) with 'online' (connected to internet).
- Using 'line' for a physical row of text when 'verse' (in poetry) or 'sentence' is meant.
- Overusing 'line' as a direct translation from Russian in idiomatic contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'the bottom line' most directly refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In UK English, 'queue' is the standard term for a line of waiting people. In US English, 'line' is used. 'Queue' is also used in computing in both varieties.
As an adjective (connected to the internet) or adverb, it's one word: 'online shopping'. As a prepositional phrase meaning 'on a line', it can be two: 'place the items online for inspection'.
Yes. Common meanings: 1) to cover the inner surface of something ('line a coat with silk'), 2) to form or arrange in a row ('crowds lined the streets'). The phrasal verb 'line up' means to form a queue or arrange in alignment.
It means to understand a hidden or implicit meaning that is not directly stated in the text or speech.