Lines: meaning, definitions and examples

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.