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online

American  
[on-lahyn, awn-] / ˈɒnˈlaɪn, ˈɔn- /
Or on-line,

adjective

  1. operating under the direct control of, or connected to, a main computer.

  2. connected by computer to one or more other computers or networks, as through a commercial electronic information service or the internet.

  3. of or denoting a business that transmits electronic information over telecommunications lines.

    an online bookstore.

  4. available or operating on a computer or computer network.

    an online dictionary.

  5. by means of or using a computer.

    online shopping.

  6. Radio. (of a network) supplying affiliated stations with all or a substantial part of their programming.

  7. Television. of or relating to the final editing of a videotaped program.

  8. done or accomplished while in operation or active service.

    online maintenance.

  9. located on major routes or rail lines.

    online industries.


adverb

  1. with or through a computer, especially over a network.

online British  
/ ˈɒnˌlaɪn /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or concerned with a peripheral device that is directly connected to and controlled by the central processing unit of a computer

  2. of or relating to the internet

    online shopping

  3. occurring as part of, or involving, a continuous sequence of operations, such as a production line

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. while connected to a computer or the internet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
online Scientific  
/ ŏnlīn /
  1. Connected to or accessible by means of a computer or computer network.


online Cultural  
  1. A term referring to locations on or use of the Internet. The term can be used to refer to a specific location or Web page (“Our sales catalogues can be found online at — ”) or to a personal activity (“I went online to find the information you wanted.”)


Etymology

Origin of online

First recorded in 1915–20 (in sense “located on rail lines”); 1945–50 for other senses

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.

There have been internal spats, members booted out and an embarrassing leak of an online council meeting.

From BBC

Clips taken from the interview -- organised last month by popular internet platform Niconico as part of a special election programme -- have proliferated online.

From Barron's

That’s the answer many in Generation Z give when confronted with online fraud and privacy concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—A former Federal Reserve official was found not guilty Tuesday of conspiring to share confidential central-bank information with Chinese intelligence officers, capping a case that featured spycraft, online seduction and a blackmail scam.

From The Wall Street Journal

Permits have been issued for more than 800 separate addresses, according to the city’s online tracker.

From Los Angeles Times