lines
Britishplural noun
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general appearance or outline
a car with fine lines
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a plan of procedure or construction
built on traditional lines
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the spoken words of a theatrical presentation
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the words of a particular role
he forgot his lines
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informal a marriage certificate
marriage lines
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luck, fate, or fortune (esp in the phrase hard lines )
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rows of tents, buildings, temporary stabling, etc, in a military camp
transport lines
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a defensive position, row of trenches, or other fortification
we broke through the enemy lines
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a school punishment of writing the same sentence or phrase out a specified number of times
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the phrases or sentences so written out
a hundred lines
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to understand or find an implicit meaning in addition to the obvious one
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.
Dell Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke said on the company’s earnings call that “demand was stronger than we anticipated across all lines of businesses and geographies.”
From MarketWatch • Jul. 6, 2026
That is setting up a debate over when military forces should use AI, when humans should intercede and who should decide where to draw the lines.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
Early on, England hit the fielders in the deep too often when Australia strayed from their straight lines.
From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026
There are a lot of quotes from alums in the book where you read between the lines and wonder, “Does this person like him?”
From Salon • Jul. 5, 2026
“Here, you will take control not of logistical lines but of actual tactical support.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
