supply line

[suh-plahy lahyn]

noun

1. a route by which goods are transported to those using or purchasing them, especially one carrying food and equipment for troops during a war.

   They thrust deeply into enemy territory, attacking enemy headquarters, communications, and supply lines.

   The trucker blockade shut off a major supply line from Canada to the United States.

2. a tube, pipe, or cable that carries water, fuel, electricity, etc., to the place where it is needed or used.

   Locate the water supply line coming into the valve and turn it off at the source, typically under the sink.

   Crews are working to get the pipeline back in service, as it is a major supply line to several southern states.

3. supply chain.

Word History and Origins

Origin of supply line¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Islamist militants still severely impact large swathes of Burkina Faso and Mali, imposing roadblocks, launching attacks and cutting off supply lines as they expand their decade-long presence, according to residents' testimonies.

Read more on Barron's

Blame for the blasts, which crippled a long-controversial energy supply line from Russia to Germany, initially focused on Moscow until signs of Ukrainian involvement began to emerge.

Read more on BBC

Then there is the near stalemate on the front line - and the consequent shift in focus by the Russian army to disrupt supply lines instead.

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Without Tomahawks or a system with a similar payload and range, Ukraine can’t put real pressure on Russian supply lines, military production or long-range launchers into Ukrainian territory.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“It would take months or years to bring back those supply lines,” said Maulik Radia, head of the Association of Industries of Haiti.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal