lines
Britishplural noun
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general appearance or outline
a car with fine lines
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a plan of procedure or construction
built on traditional lines
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the spoken words of a theatrical presentation
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the words of a particular role
he forgot his lines
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informal a marriage certificate
marriage lines
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luck, fate, or fortune (esp in the phrase hard lines )
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rows of tents, buildings, temporary stabling, etc, in a military camp
transport lines
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a defensive position, row of trenches, or other fortification
we broke through the enemy lines
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a school punishment of writing the same sentence or phrase out a specified number of times
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the phrases or sentences so written out
a hundred lines
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to understand or find an implicit meaning in addition to the obvious one
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If that is the case, Iran may be attempting to establish a new regional reality: one in which it negotiates from a position of strength while actively enforcing its own red lines.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
After Walker’s time at the private office ended, she kept lines to Gates open.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
I wish the internet looked like Matt Damon, or like lines of light written by an invisible hand in the night sky.
From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026
Five current commissioners — William Muniz, Michael Ruff, Rosalind Sargent-Burns, Mary Thornton and Jack Weiss — were reconfirmed June 1 in votes that fell along party lines.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
He points out the phrases he likes best, the lines that surprised him or made him want to know more.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.