Line

Line, līn, n. a thread of linen or flax: a slender cord: (math.) that which has length without breadth or thickness: an extended stroke: a straight row: a cord extended to direct any operations: outline: a series or succession, as of progeny: a series of steamers, &c., plying continuously between places: a railroad: a telegraph wire between stations: an order given to an agent for goods, such goods received, the stock on hand of any particular goods: a mark or lineament, hence a characteristic: a rank: a verse: a short letter or note: a trench: limit: method: the equator: lineage: direction: occupation: the regular infantry of an army: the twelfth part of an inch: (pl.) marriage-lines, a marriage certificate: a certificate of church membership: military works of defence.—v.t. to mark out with lines: to cover with lines: to place along by the side of for guarding: to give out for public singing, as a hymn, line by line: (rare) to delineate, paint: to measure.—n. Lin′eāge, descendants in a line from a common progenitor: race: family.—adj. Lin′eal, of or belonging to a line: composed of lines: in the direction of a line: descended in a direct line from an ancestor.—n. Lineal′ity.—adv. Lin′eally.—n. Lin′eament, feature: distinguishing mark in the form, esp. of the face.—adj. Lin′ear, of or belonging to a line: consisting of, or having the form of, lines: straight.—adv. Lin′early.—adjs. Lin′eāte, -d, marked longitudinally with depressed lines.—ns. Line′ātion (same as Delineation); Line′-engrav′ing, the process of engraving in lines, steel or copperplate engraving.—n.pl. Line′-fish, those taken with the line, as cod, halibut, &c.—adj. Lin′eolate, marked with fine or obscure lines.—ns. Lin′er, a vessel belonging to a regular line or series of packets; Lines′man (mil.), a private in the line; Line′-storm, an equinoctial storm.—Linear perspective, that part of perspective which regards only the positions, magnitudes, and forms of the objects delineated.—Equinoctial line, the celestial equator: the terrestrial equator; Fraunhofer's lines, the dark lines observed crossing the sun's spectrum at right angles to its length—from the Bavarian optician, Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787-1826); Give line, from angling, to allow a person apparent freedom, so as to gain him at last; Ship of the line (see Ship). [A.S. líne—L. linea—linum, flax.]