Lines: meaning, definitions and examples

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lines

[laɪnz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

on the street

Lines refer to the long, narrow marks or bands that are drawn or printed on a surface. They can be straight or curved and are often used to separate or define areas.

Synonyms

streaks, stripes, strokes.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lines	Written or spoken sentences, often used in the context of scripts or poetry. He remembered all his lines for the school play. The poem's lines were very touching.
streaks	Long, thin marks that often suggest movement or speed. Can have a slightly negative connotation, implying irregularity or messiness. There were streaks of dirt on the window. Her hair had streaks of gray.
stripes	Parallel lines or bands of color, often used in a patterned way. The zebra has black and white stripes. The shirt has blue and white stripes.
strokes	Individual marks made by a brush, pen, or similar tool, often in the context of painting or writing. She painted the canvas with broad strokes. The calligrapher's strokes were elegant.

Examples of usage

The artist used bold lines to outline the shape of the tree.
Please wait in line for your turn to board the bus.
She followed the line on the map to find her way to the museum.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

at the store

In a retail context, lines are queues of people waiting to pay for their purchases or receive assistance. They can also refer to the different products or services offered by a company.

Synonyms

queue, range, row.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lines	Use 'lines' to refer to multiple individual elements that are arranged in a sequential or ordered way, such as sentences in a text or people standing in order. The teacher asked the students to read the first three lines of the poem There were long lines at the grocery store today
queue	Use 'queue' when describing a line or sequence of people or things awaiting their turn, typically in a formal or structured setting. It is often used in British English. The customers formed a queue outside the new restaurant You need to join the queue if you want to buy concert tickets
row	Use 'row' for a straight line of objects or people arranged side by side, often in a horizontal line. It is commonly used for seating arrangements or structured groupings. We sat in the front row at the theater The farmer planted the crops in neat rows
range	Use 'range' to refer to a set of different things of the same general type, often spread out over a particular area or scale. It is commonly used in the context of numbers, values, or geographical areas. The test scores fell within a wide range The company offers a range of services

Examples of usage

There was a long line at the checkout counter.
The store carries a wide line of organic beauty products.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

activity

To line something means to cover the inside surface or edge of an object with a layer of material. It can also mean to stand or form a line.

Synonyms

array, cover, overlay.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lines	Typically used to describe straight or curved markings, often in drawings, designs, or on paper. The artist drew several lines to outline the shape. Please follow the lines on the floor to reach the exit.
cover	Used when something is placed over something else to protect or conceal it. Please cover the food to keep it fresh. He used a blanket to cover himself during the cold night.
overlay	Refers to placing one thing on top of another, often used in digital or graphic design to describe superimposing images or text. The designer decided to overlay the text on the image. An overlay of graphics will be used in the presentation.
array	Mainly used in technical or scientific contexts to refer to an ordered arrangement of elements, often in rows and columns. The scientist arranged the samples in an array for analysis. The software uses an array to store data efficiently.

Examples of usage

She lined the shelves with colorful paper to brighten up the room.
The students lined up in the hallway for the fire drill.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word has roots in the Latin 'linea', meaning 'string' or 'linen thread'.
In Old French, the term 'ligne' was used, which also referred to lines or rows, emphasizing order.
Historically, lines were used to organize thoughts and ideas, leading to their importance in writing and art.

Art

In art, lines can convey emotions; straight lines often feel stable, while curvy ones may appear more dynamic.
Artists like Pablo Picasso used lines creatively to form shapes and express movement in their work.
The technique of 'line art' consists solely of using lines without shading to create fascinating images.

Mathematics

In geometry, lines are defined as infinitely long with no thickness, crucial for understanding shapes and angles.
The concept of parallel lines, which never meet, is a fundamental principle in mathematics.
Graphs use lines to represent equations visually, helping to illustrate relationships between numbers.

Music

In music notation, lines are vital; the staff consists of five lines where notes are placed to indicate pitch.
Some songs contain verses or 'lines' that repeat, adding rhythm and structure.
Lyricists often craft memorable lines to convey emotion, making songs relatable to listeners.

Literature

A line can be a sentence or part of a poem, and writers carefully choose their words to create imagery and emotion.
Famous literary quotes are often identified by their striking lines, which linger in readers' minds.
Narratives are structured in lines of dialogue, helping to give characters their voices.

Translations

Translations of the word "lines" in other languages:

🇵🇹 linhas

linhas de texto
linhas de código

🇮🇳 रेखाएँ

पंक्तियाँ
कोड की पंक्तियाँ

🇩🇪 Linien

Textzeilen
Codezeilen

🇮🇩 garis

baris teks
baris kode

🇺🇦 лінії

рядки
рядки коду

🇵🇱 linie

linie tekstu
linie kodu

🇯🇵 線

行
コード行

🇫🇷 lignes

lignes de texte
lignes de code

🇪🇸 líneas

líneas de texto
líneas de código

🇹🇷 çizgiler

metin satırları
kod satırları

🇰🇷 선

텍스트 줄
코드 줄

🇸🇦 خطوط

سطور النص
سطور الشفرة

🇨🇿 čáry

řádky textu
řádky kódu

🇸🇰 čiary

riadky textu
riadky kódu

🇨🇳 线条

文本行
代码行

🇸🇮 vrstice

vrstice besedila
vrstice kode

🇮🇸 línur

textalínur
kóðalínur

🇰🇿 сызықтар

мәтін жолдары
код жолдары

🇬🇪 გადაწყვეტილებები

ტექსტის ხაზები
კოდის ხაზები

🇦🇿 xətlər

mətn sətirləri
kod sətirləri

🇲🇽 líneas

líneas de texto
líneas de código

Word Frequency Rank

With position #477, this word is vital for basic English fluency. It appears very frequently in everyday language and should be among the first words you learn and actively use.

...
474 studies
475 began
476 activities
477 lines
478 mother
479 carried
480 manner
...