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online

American  
[on-lahyn, awn-] / ˈɒnˈlaɪn, ˈɔn- /
Or on-line,

adjective

  1. operating under the direct control of, or connected to, a main computer.

  2. connected by computer to one or more other computers or networks, as through a commercial electronic information service or the internet.

  3. of or denoting a business that transmits electronic information over telecommunications lines.

    an online bookstore.

  4. available or operating on a computer or computer network.

    an online dictionary.

  5. by means of or using a computer.

    online shopping.

  6. Radio. (of a network) supplying affiliated stations with all or a substantial part of their programming.

  7. Television. of or relating to the final editing of a videotaped program.

  8. done or accomplished while in operation or active service.

    online maintenance.

  9. located on major routes or rail lines.

    online industries.


adverb

  1. with or through a computer, especially over a network.

online British  
/ ˈɒnˌlaɪn /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or concerned with a peripheral device that is directly connected to and controlled by the central processing unit of a computer

  2. of or relating to the internet

    online shopping

  3. occurring as part of, or involving, a continuous sequence of operations, such as a production line

"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

adverb

  1. while connected to a computer or the internet

"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
online Scientific  
/ ŏnlīn /
  1. Connected to or accessible by means of a computer or computer network.


online Cultural  
  1. A term referring to locations on or use of the Internet. The term can be used to refer to a specific location or Web page (“Our sales catalogues can be found online at — ”) or to a personal activity (“I went online to find the information you wanted.”)


Etymology

Origin of online

First recorded in 1915–20 (in sense “located on rail lines”); 1945–50 for other senses

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.

In addition to being major ambassadors of online sports betting, Black celebrities have become the very face of it.

From Salon

Cabot Learning Federation, which runs the school, said that an investigation is ongoing into "some online posts of concern".

From BBC

Interestingly, 11 different participants independently suggested the same name during the online naming effort.

From Science Daily

Getting the dry docks online by the time they are needed will also be an issue, some analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Videos circulated online showing a snake handler removing one of the long black snakes that had slithered into the building - with onlookers screaming.

From BBC