line

A1 · Beginner Countable noun British English

n. a row of people or things waiting for something.

n. a sequence of people or objects arranged in a queue or row, often waiting to be processed.

“We had to wait in a long line to buy tickets for the concert.”

“A long line of commuters stretched out of the station entrance during the unexpected power failure.”

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a piece of rope, cord, or wire used for a specific purpose.

n. a length of cord, rope, or wire used for a particular function such as fishing or hanging clothes.

“He cast his fishing line into the water and waited for a bite.”

“The sailors secured the vessel to the pier using heavy nylon lines to withstand the rising tide.”

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a single row of words in a book, poem, or letter.

n. a single row of written or printed words, especially in a poem or a script.

“The actor forgot his lines during the first scene of the play.”

“The poet revised the final line of the stanza several times to ensure the meter remained consistent.”

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a telephone or internet connection.

n. a telecommunications connection, typically referring to a telephone or network link.

Español:línea

“I'm sorry, the line is busy; can I take a message?”

“The storm damaged the main fiber-optic line, leaving the entire village without internet access for three days.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a limit or border that separates two areas or ideas.

n. a demarcation or limit, whether physical (a border) or conceptual (a distinction).

“The river forms the line between the two countries.”

“The debate focused on where to draw the line between personal privacy and public safety.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a series of people in a family who come one after another.

n. a series of ancestors or descendants of a given person; a lineage.

“She can trace her family line back to the 18th century.”

“The royal line was threatened when the king died without leaving a direct heir to the throne.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing

n. a group of similar products made by a company.

n. a set of related products or services offered by a business for sale.

“The company is launching a new line of organic skincare products.”

“The manufacturer discontinued their budget line to focus exclusively on high-end luxury electronics.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to stand in a row along the edge of something.

v. to form a row along the side of something, often for decoration or security.

“Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the parade.”

“Ancient oak trees lined the driveway, their branches meeting overhead to form a natural tunnel.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to put a layer of material on the inside of something.

v. to cover the inner surface of an object, typically with a different material for protection or warmth.

“She lined the cake tin with baking paper so the cake wouldn't stick.”

“The winter coat was lined with thick faux fur to provide extra insulation against the sub-zero temperatures.”

C1 · Advanced Theater Technical

interj. what an actor says when they forget what to say next.

interj. a prompt used by an actor during rehearsal to indicate they have forgotten their dialogue and require assistance.

“The actor paused, looked toward the wings, and whispered, 'Line?'”

“During the dress rehearsal, the lead actor called for a line twice, indicating he was still struggling with the third act.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang · Informal

n. a small amount of a powder drug arranged in a row.

n. a portion of a powdery recreational drug, such as cocaine, arranged in a thin row for consumption.

“The movie showed the characters doing lines in a nightclub bathroom.”

“The detective found traces of white powder and a credit card used to arrange lines on the glass coffee table.”