# line /ˈɫaɪn/ (US) · /lˈaɪn/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/line Updated: 2026-08-15 ## Senses ### 1. a long mark noun · CEFR A1 a long, thin mark made by a pen, pencil, or tool on a surface. For teachers: a continuous mark, straight or curved, made on a surface; in geometry, a path through two or more points. - Please sign your name on the dotted line at the bottom of the page. - The artist used a series of fine, overlapping lines to create the illusion of depth in the charcoal drawing. ### 2. a row of people noun · CEFR A1 · British English a row of people or things waiting for something. For teachers: 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. ### 3. a piece of string or rope noun · CEFR A2 a piece of rope, cord, or wire used for a specific purpose. For teachers: 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. ### 4. a row of text noun · CEFR A2 a single row of words in a book, poem, or letter. For teachers: 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. ### 5. a phone or internet connection noun · CEFR A2 a telephone or internet connection. For teachers: a telecommunications connection, typically referring to a telephone or network link. - 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. ### 6. a boundary or limit noun · CEFR B1 a limit or border that separates two areas or ideas. For teachers: 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. ### 7. a family history noun · CEFR B2 a series of people in a family who come one after another. For teachers: 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. ### 8. a set of products noun · CEFR B2 a group of similar products made by a company. For teachers: 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. ### 9. to form a row verb · CEFR B1 to stand in a row along the edge of something. For teachers: 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. ### 10. to cover the inside verb · CEFR B2 to put a layer of material on the inside of something. For teachers: 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. ### 11. forgetting dialogue interjection · CEFR C1 · Technical what an actor says when they forget what to say next. For teachers: 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. ### 12. a portion of drugs noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal a small amount of a powder drug arranged in a row. For teachers: 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. ## Examples - There is a long line for the bus. - The teacher asked the students to form a single line before going outside for recess. - The novel's narrative follows the intersecting lines of three families whose fates are woven together by a single, tragic event. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.