What does line mean?
A line is a long, narrow mark, the straight edge of an object, or a row of people or things. From these basic senses, the word extends to boundaries, routes, written passages, sequences of thought, and other orderly arrangements. As a verb, line can mean to draw a mark, form a row, or arrange something in an orderly fashion. It is an unusually useful word because it appears in both concrete and abstract contexts: one can draw a line, wait in line, cross a line, or follow a line of reasoning. The term also appears in specialized expressions such as “on the line,” “line of argument,” and “stand in line.” Its broad range of meanings makes it valuable in everyday communication, while its figurative uses often suggest order, connection, limit, or direction.
A long, narrow mark; a straight edge; a row of people or things; a route, boundary, or continuous sequence; or a passage of written or spoken text.
"The teacher read each line of the poem aloud."
The sense “a row of people or things” is especially common in American English, where “line” is standard for a queue.
To draw or form a line, arrange people or things in a row, or cross or intersect another line or route.
"They lined the children up along the wall before entering the hall."
The verb is commonly transitive in the sense of placing something along a line, as in “line the walls with shelves,” and intransitive in the sense of forming a row, as in “the crowds lined up outside.”
The standard plural is “lines,” used for multiple marks, rows, routes, boundaries, or passages of text.
"Several lines of text were blurred by the watermark."
The word line comes from Latin for flax: the original word referred to a row of flax fibers, whose straight stems inspired the modern sense of a straight mark.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of line
The English word descends from Latin linea, meaning a line, row, or boundary, and ultimately from linum, “flax.” The flax connection is reflected in the word’s early association with rows of flax fibers. Through Old French and Middle English, linea developed into the modern noun line, which later acquired the verb meaning “to draw a line” and “to arrange in a row.” Related English words include linear, from the Latin adjective linearis, and lineage, which ultimately derives from the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How line is actually used
The noun is highly versatile and can refer to a physical mark, a row, a route, a boundary, or an abstract sequence. In British English, “line” is also common for a telephone conversation, while “queue” is more often used for a waiting line; both meanings are also understood in American English.
Easily confused with line
A line is a mark or row, whereas a lane is a narrow passage or designated part of a road.
A line is a drawn or arranged mark or row, while align means to bring people or things into a straight or orderly relationship.