supply line

American  

[suh-plahy lahyn] / səˈplaɪ ˌlaɪn /

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of supply line

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Wrecking Russian supply lines would render its trenches weak, he said: "Fortified positions are effective if you have ammunition, rounds, weapons that you can defend with."

From Reuters

He called on companies to root out illegal child labor in supply lines.

From Seattle Times

The Ukrainian military does not need to “invade” Crimea, as many geographically challenged critics claim, but merely to render Russian supply lines to the peninsula inoperable and its occupation untenable.

From Seattle Times

On Wednesday, Mercer Island’s water supply lines went down.

From Seattle Times

Seattle Public Utilities was conducting routine maintenance on aging valves in water-supply lines when crews encountered an issue while trying to reconnect the supply lines, city spokesperson Mason Luvera said.

From Seattle Times