lead line

American

[led] / lɛd /

noun

Nautical.

a line by which a lead is lowered into the water to take soundings: in deep-sea practice, divided into levels one fathom apart, variously treated as marks and deeps.

lead line British

/ lɛd /

noun

nautical a length of line for swinging a lead, marked at various points to indicate multiples of fathoms

"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

Etymology

Origin of lead line

First recorded in 1475–85

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.

The infrastructure and reconciliation bills pending in Congress include billions to address lead line replacement that activists say could make a significant difference.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 4, 2021

Those residents may apply for financial aid to replace the rest of the lead line between the property line and their home with safer copper pipe, D.C.

From Washington Post • Nov. 6, 2019

She was tied to a long lead line in the yard while her owners were at work.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2018

Its sponsor Republican Sen. Robert Cowles wants to let utilities finance lead line replacements.

From Washington Times • Mar. 8, 2017

But in the end they had to rattle up the lead line and pull Carl fully into the folds of his net.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023