lifeline

American  

[lahyf-lahyn] / ˈlaɪfˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a line, fired across a ship or boat, by means of which a hawser for a breeches buoy may be hauled aboard.

2. a line or rope for saving life, as one attached to a lifeboat.

3. any of various lines line running above the decks, spars, etc., of a ship or boat to give sailors something to grasp when there is danger of falling or being washed away.

4. a wire safety rope supported by stanchions along the edge of the deck of a yacht.

5. the line by which a diver is lowered and raised.

6. any of several anchored lines line used by swimmers for support.

7. a route or means of transportation or communication for receiving or delivering food, medicine, or assistance.

   This road is the town's lifeline and must be kept open despite the snow.

8. assistance at a critical time.

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lifeline British  

/ ˈlaɪfˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a line thrown or fired aboard a vessel for hauling in a hawser for a breeches buoy

2. any rope or line attached to a vessel or trailed from it for the safety of passengers, crew, swimmers, etc

3. a line by which a deep-sea diver is raised or lowered

4. a vital line of access or communication

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Etymology

Origin of lifeline

First recorded in 1690–1700; life + line ¹

Example Sentences

The restaurant, Fair Oaks Burger, reopened an outdoor kitchen for residents and recovery workers just weeks after the fire and has become a lifeline for the neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

She said organizations like hers — which use diplomacy to quash street beefs before they spill over into bloodshed — have also become lifelines for certain neighborhoods by providing diapers, formula, and other essential supplies.

From Los Angeles Times

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba’s security and intelligence services secured a lifeline from oil-rich Venezuela as Havana inched closer to economic collapse.

From The Wall Street Journal

Beijing might have trouble capitalizing on regional concerns about U.S. overreach, she said, because China is “no longer viewed across parts of the region as an economic lifeline or stabilizing external partner.”

From The Wall Street Journal

It said phones were a lifeline for vulnerable people who needed to remain in contact with their families.

From BBC