a system of public conveyances, as buses or trains, plying regularly over a fixed route: the northbound line at State Street.
:a transportation or conveyance company: a steamship line.
:a course of direction; route: the line of march down Main Street.
:a course of action, procedure, thought, policy, etc.: That newspaper follows the communist line.
:a piece of pertinent or useful information: I've got a line on a good used car.
:a series of generations of persons, animals, or plants descended from a common ancestor: a line of kings.
:a department of activity; occupation or business: What line are you in?
:Informal. a mode of conversation, especially one that is glib or exaggerated in order to impress or influence another person: He really handed her a line about his rich relatives.
:a straight line drawn from an observed object to the fovea of the eye.
:lines, the outer form or proportions of a ship, building, etc.: a ship of fine lines.a general form, as of an event or something that is made, which may be the basis of comparison, imitation, etc.: two books written along the same lines.a person's lot or portion: to endure the hard lines of poverty.Chiefly British.a certificate of marriage.
:a circle of the terrestrial or celestial sphere: the equinoctial line.
:banner.
:Fine Arts. a mark made by a pencil, brush, or the like, that defines the contour of a shape, forms hatching, etc.the edge of a shape.
:Television. one scanning line.
:Telecommunications. a telephone connection: Please hold the line.a wire circuit connecting two or more pieces of electric apparatus, especially the wire or wires connecting points or stations in a telegraph or telephone system, or the system itself.
:the line, Geography. the equator.
:a stock of commercial goods of the same general class but having a range of styles, sizes, prices, or quality: the company's line of shoes.
:an assembly line.
:Law. a limit defining one estate from another; the outline or boundary of a piece of real estate.
:Bridge. a line on a score sheet that separates points scored toward game from points scored by setting a contract, having honors, etc. .
:Music. any of the straight, horizontal, parallel strokes of the staff, or one placed above or below the staff.
:Military. a defensive position or front.a series of fortifications: the Maginot line.Usually lines. a distribution of troops, sentries, etc., for the defense of a position or for an attack: behind the enemy's lines.the body of personnel constituting the combatant forces of an army, as distinguished from the supply services and staff corps.
:an arrangement of troops of an army or of ships of a fleet as drawn up for battle: line of battle.
:a body or formation of troops or ships drawn up abreast.
:the class of officers serving with combatant units or warships.
:the regular forces of an army or navy.
:that part of an administrative organization consisting of persons actively engaged on a given project.Compare staff.
:a thread, string, cord, rope, or the like.
:a clothesline: the wash hanging on the line.
:a cord, wire, or the like, used for measuring or as a guide.
:Nautical. a pipe or hose: a steam line.a rope or cable used at sea.
:Slang. a small quantity of cocaine arranged in the form of a slender thread or line, as for sniffing.
:Also ligne . a unit equal to 1/40 inch, for measuring the diameter of buttons.
:Angling. a length of nylon, silk, linen, cord, or the like, to which are attached the leader, hook, sinker, float, etc.
:Football. either of the two front rows of opposing players lined up opposite each other on the line of scrimmage: a four-man line.the line of scrimmage.
:the betting odds established by bookmakers for events not covered by pari-mutuel betting, especially sporting events, as football or basketball.
:Ice Hockey. the two wings and center who make up a team's offensive unit.
:Fencing. any of the four divisions of the portion of a fencer's body on which a touch can be scored, taken as an area of attack or defense.
:Textiles. the longer and preferred flax or hemp fibers.Compare tow.
:Fox Hunting. the trail of scent left by a fox.
:a unit of length equivalent to 1/12 inch.
:Insurance. a class or type of insurance: casualty line.the amount of insurance written for a particular risk.
:Australian Slang. a girl or woman.
v.无主动词 verb
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lined, lin·ing.
:to take a position in a line; range: to line up before the start of a parade.
:Baseball. to hit a line drive. to line out.
v.有主动词 verb
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lined, lin·ing.
:to bring into a line, or into line with others: to line up troops.
:to mark with a line or lines: to line paper for writing.
:to sketch verbally or in writing; outline: We followed the plan he had lined out.
:to arrange a line along: to line a coast with colonies.
:to form a line along: Rocks lined the drive.
:to apply eyeliner to.
:to delineate with or as if with lines; draw: to line the silhouette of a person's head.
:Archaic. to measure or test with a line.
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:line out, Baseball.to be put out by hitting a line drive caught on the fly by a player of the opposing team.to execute or perform: He lined out a few songs upon request.
:line up, to secure; make available: to line up support; to line up a speaker for the banquet.