line*/*/*/

[laɪn] noun I

1) [C] a long thin mark on the surface of something

Draw a straight line.[/ex]

The replay showed the ball had crossed the line.[/ex]

2) [C] a row of people or things

a line of palm trees[/ex]

3) [C] a thin mark on someone's skin that appears especially as they get older

Syn:

wrinkle

4) [C] a series of words in a book, song, play etc

The actors kept forgetting their lines.[/ex]

a line of poetry[/ex]

5) [C] a piece of string, rope, or wire used for a particular purpose

a washing line[/ex]

6) [C] a telephone connection or service

an advice line[/ex]

It's a very bad line – I'll call you back.[/ex]

7) [C] a part of a railway system

the London to Brighton line[/ex]

8) [C] the direction or path along which someone or something moves or looks

He was so drunk he couldn't walk in a straight line.[/ex]

9) [C] a series of people or events that are connected

the latest in a long line of scandals[/ex]

10) [C] an imaginary limit or border between two situations or conditions

There is a fine line between helping and interfering.[/ex]

11) [C] a way of thinking, talking, or finding out about something

a persuasive line of argument[/ex]

The government is taking a hard line on street crime (= dealing with it firmly).[/ex]

12) [C/U] a queue of people waiting for something

We stood in line for an hour.[/ex]

•

along the lines of — similar to, or based on[/ex]

an ad campaign along the lines of the one we did last year[/ex]

along similar/different/the same lines — in a way that is similar/different/the same[/ex]

be in line for sth — to be likely to receive something[/ex]

bring sb/sth into line — to make someone or something similar to another person or thing[/ex]

The new ruling brings this country into line with the rest of Europe.[/ex]

down the line — at a later stage in a process[/ex]

The situation will be very different two months down the line.[/ex]

in/out of line with — 1) similar to/different from someone or something[/ex]

The costs were very much in line with what we expected.[/ex]

— 2) changing/not changing in the same way as another thing

The increase in pay is in line with the cost of living.[/ex]

on line — connected to a computer system or to the Internet→ online[/ex]

on the line — 1) at risk[/ex]

His job could be on the line if results do not improve.[/ex]

— 2) on the telephone

We have a caller on the line from California.[/ex]

out of line — behaving in a way that other people do not approve of[/ex]

That comment was way out of line.[/ex]

II

verb [T]

line [laɪn]

1) to cover the inside of something with a layer of something else

Line the baking tray with greaseproof paper.[/ex]

He wore a black coat lined with dark grey silk.[/ex]

2) to form rows along the sides of something

Crowds lined the streets to watch the parade.[/ex]

•

line your pocket s — to obtain money, especially by acting dishonestly[/ex]

- line (sb/sth) up

- line sth up