lineation

[lin-ee-ey-shuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of marking with or tracing by lines. line.

2. a division into lines. line.

3. an outline or delineation.

4. an arrangement or group of lines. line.

lineation

/ ˌlɪnɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of marking with lines

2. an arrangement of or division into lines

3. an outline or contour

4. any linear arrangement involving rocks or minerals, such as a parallel arrangement of elongated mineral grains

Word History and Origins

Origin of lineation¹

1350–1400; Middle English lyneacion < Late Latin līneātiōn- (stem of līneātiō ) the drawing of a line, Latin: direction, line. See lineate, -ion

Example Sentences

Aided by Kooser’s artful lineation, we are whisked from room to room, the quick in pursuit of the dead.

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What was expected was that the basal rock would show lineations from the scouring effects of ice that has been moving across it for millions of years.

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Likewise, Libya makes an entry with glacial lineations in the Murzuq Basin that are several kilometres long.

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Europa turns out to be as smooth as a billiard ball despite the network of lineations.

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Crooked and jagged, the lineation is a lifetime on display — the joy, sadness, euphoria and thrill of every breath.

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Related Words

• architecture 
• aspect 
• body 
• configuration 
• contour 
• format 
• frame 
• model 
• outline 
• pattern 
• shadow 
• silhouette