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line
/laɪn/
a long narrow mark
Draw a straight line on the paper.
Create a continuous, narrow stroke connecting two points.
general
A long, narrow mark, groove, or streak.
The artist drew a thin line.
The creator made a slender mark.
Can be straight or curved.
informal
A row of people or things waiting their turn.
There is a long line at the store.
Many people are waiting in a queue.
Common in American English; British English often uses 'queue'.
Technology
technical
A telephone connection or circuit.
The phone line is busy.
The telephone circuit is currently in use.
Refers to the physical or logical connection.
general
A single row of written or printed words.
Read the next line of the poem.
Read the subsequent row of text.
Used in writing and coding.
Collocations
cross the lineto behave inappropriatelybottom linethe final result or most important pointon the lineat risk
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Queue vs. Line
Use 'line' in American English for waiting people; use 'queue' in British English. Both are understood globally.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Always check if 'line' refers to a physical mark, a queue, a telephone connection, or a boundary.
Word Origin
From Old English 'līn', from Proto-Germanic '*līno' (thread, cord), related to 'linen'.
Usage Notes
In American English, 'line' is the standard term for a queue of people. In British English, 'queue' is more common, though 'line' is understood.
English Dictionary