line drawing

American

noun

a drawing done exclusively in line, providing gradations in tone entirely through variations in width and density.

line drawing British

noun

a drawing made with lines only, gradations in tone being provided by the spacing and thickness of the lines

"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 line drawing

First recorded in 1890–95

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.

But if Carl Richards was invited to the party — as he should be — the group might emerge with just a line drawing accompanied by a few words.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

Not those hairline millimetre is he on or off line drawing nonsense situations.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

But they would mark a shift away from an equal protection analysis that demands close attention to fit and effect, toward one that treats administrability and legislative line drawing as decisive.

From Slate • Jan. 14, 2026

The couple’s home decor includes a line drawing by their 10-year-old nephew, family photos and colorful Pez dispensers.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2025

About two inches square, each card has a simple black-and-white line drawing and the word or phrase printed along the top.

From "Rules" by Cynthia Lord

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