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A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.
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{
"term": "line",
"partOfSpeech": "noun",
"ox3000": true,
"cefr": "a1",
"image": "data/images/li/lines.png",
"definitions": [
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "a long, thin mark on a surface",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "a **straight/solid/dotted/dashed line**"
},
{
"text": "a wavy/diagonal line"
},
{
"text": "a vertical/horizontal line"
},
{
"text": "parallel lines"
},
{
"text": "**Draw a** thick black **line** across the page."
},
{
"text": "He wrote the title and drew a line under it."
},
{
"text": "She could draw a perfectly straight line."
},
{
"text": "He created his first strictly geometrical work, using only straight lines and circles."
},
{
"text": "a faint white line"
},
{
"text": "This is indicated in sheet music by a long wavy line connecting the two staves."
},
{
"text": "The contour lines represent points of equal elevation."
},
{
"text": "The mural has white diagonal lines criss-crossing in all directions."
},
{
"text": "Red lines denote security updates and blue lines denote recommended updates."
},
{
"text": "a pattern of parallel wavy lines"
},
{
"text": "Draw a chalk line on the container to record the level."
},
{
"text": "He traces a line in white paint along the wall."
},
{
"text": "The road has a double yellow line painted on the side indicating that you cannot park."
},
{
"text": "A red line marks where the wall stood."
},
{
"text": "The pencil line connects one box to another."
},
{
"text": "The watercolour strokes and the pencil lines run in the same direction."
},
{
"text": "She draws the paint out into thin, spidery lines."
},
{
"text": "The work shows thin black parallel lines crossing a field of white."
},
{
"text": "Dark areas are shaded with thin lines."
},
{
"text": "Why is there that faint vertical line on the screen?"
},
{
"text": "Yellowish spots form a line down the middle of the caterpillar's back."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["long", "short", "thick"],
"verb + line": ["draw", "mark"],
"line + verb": ["run", "divide something", "separate something"],
"preposition": ["in a line"],
"phrases": ["a line of latitude", "a line of longitude"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "a long, thin mark on the ground to show the limit or border of something, especially of a playing area in some sports",
"sensetop": "over/across the linebehind the line",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "The first to **cross the line** wins the race."
},
{
"text": "She crossed the centre line and hit an oncoming truck."
},
{
"text": "The ball was over the line.",
"contextForm": "over/across the line"
},
{
"text": "Your feet must be behind the line when you serve *(= in tennis)*.",
"contextForm": "behind the line"
},
{
"text": "The ball was called out but a replay showed it was right on the line."
},
{
"text": "A goal was given but I don't think the ball crossed the line."
},
{
"text": "He moved the ball quickly along the line and scored."
},
{
"text": "They are good at passing the ball down the line."
},
{
"text": "She stood in the middle of an empty football pitch, on the centre line."
},
{
"text": "It was a photo finish, with three cyclists appearing to cross the line simultaneously."
},
{
"text": "It's a country lane with no lines."
}
],
"topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["long", "short", "thick"],
"verb + line": ["draw", "mark"],
"line + verb": ["run", "divide something", "separate something"],
"preposition": ["in a line"],
"phrases": ["a line of latitude", "a line of longitude"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "a mark like a line on somebody’s skin that people usually get as they get older",
"cefr": "a2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "He has **fine lines** around his eyes."
},
{
"text": "Deep worry lines had appeared on her forehead."
},
{
"text": "I saw the faint lines of concern etched into his brow."
},
{
"text": "a cream that improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles"
},
{
"text": "I'm starting to get lines around my mouth."
},
{
"text": "The camera focuses on the wrinkled laughter lines around the man's eyes."
},
{
"text": "The bright light shows all the lines on your face."
},
{
"text": "a slim face with deep lines on either side of the mouth"
},
{
"text": "She says she doesn't frown because it gives you lines."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["worry", "deep", "faint"],
"verb + line": ["have"],
"line + verb": ["run", "appear"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 4,
"definition": "a row of people or things next to each other or behind each other",
"sensetop": "in a lineline of something",
"cefr": "a2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "They formed a line and marched forward."
},
{
"text": "The children all stood in a line.",
"contextForm": "in a line"
},
{
"text": "They were stuck in a line of traffic.",
"contextForm": "line of something"
},
{
"text": "a **straight/long line** of trees"
},
{
"text": "Make sure the posts are planted in a straight line."
},
{
"text": "There were three bins in a line."
},
{
"text": "They were all walking along the lane in a line."
},
{
"text": "grasses are planted at regular intervals in long diagonal lines"
},
{
"text": "A line of cars stretched as far as the eye could see."
},
{
"text": "There was a long line of lorries on the A40."
},
{
"text": "A line of dancers stood on stage kicking their legs."
},
{
"text": "A line of trees was sillhouetted against the sky."
},
{
"text": "A line of mounted police stopped protesters."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["long", "short", "new"],
"verb + line": ["form"],
"preposition": ["in a/the line", "on a/the line"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 5,
"definition": "a queue of people",
"sensetop": "in lineline for something",
"labels": "(North American English)",
"cefr": "a2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "A line formed at each teller window."
},
{
"text": "to **stand/wait in line**",
"contextForm": "in line"
},
{
"text": "If you want a ticket, **get in line**."
},
{
"text": "There's a line for the women's bathroom.",
"contextForm": "line for something"
},
{
"text": "They have to stand in line for groceries."
},
{
"text": "The lunch line was long as usual."
},
{
"text": "You'll have to wait in line like everybody else."
},
{
"text": "people standing in line at the bank"
},
{
"text": "How many hours each week do you spend waiting in line for coffee?"
},
{
"text": "‘Get back in line!’ the teacher snarled."
},
{
"text": "He was sent to the back of the line."
},
{
"text": "I joined the line and prepared for a long wait."
},
{
"text": "supermarket checkout lines"
},
{
"text": "The lines stretched around the block."
},
{
"text": "There was a long line at the post office."
},
{
"text": "If there's a line for the women's room, I go in the men's."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["long", "short", "checkout"],
"verb + line": ["form"],
"preposition": ["in line"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 6,
"definition": "a phone connection; a particular phone number",
"sensetop": "on the line",
"cefr": "a2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "The **phone lines** were jammed *(= very busy)* with people calling to complain."
},
{
"text": "I tried to call but the line was busy."
},
{
"text": "I was talking to John when the **line** suddenly **went dead**."
},
{
"text": "**Lines are open** from 7.30 am until midnight seven days a week."
},
{
"text": "If you **hold the line** *(= stay on the phone and wait)*, I'll see if she is available."
},
{
"text": "It's your mother on the line.",
"contextForm": "on the line"
},
{
"text": "Your bill includes **line rental**."
},
{
"text": "He kept shouting down the line at me."
},
{
"text": "Please stay on the line until one of our customer service operatives becomes available."
},
{
"text": "She didn't know that he was on the line listening to the call."
},
{
"text": "Speak up—it's rather a bad line."
},
{
"text": "What do I dial for an outside line?"
},
{
"text": "At that time you needed a phone line to connect with the internet."
},
{
"text": "The toll-free phone line is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m."
},
{
"text": "The panic room has its own ventilation system and telephone line."
},
{
"text": "He gave me the number of his private line."
},
{
"text": "I don't use this line for personal calls."
},
{
"text": "You can call me back on this line."
},
{
"text": "‘Bye,’ he said and the line went dead."
},
{
"text": "Lines are now open and viewers can vote by calling 090 77 77 77."
},
{
"text": "Throughout the evening the phone lines will be open for listeners to share their memories."
},
{
"text": "Whenever I try to ring the doctor's the lines are all engaged."
},
{
"text": "They said they tried to call you, but your line was busy."
}
],
"topics": ["Phones, email and the internet"],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["direct", "trunk", "power"],
"verb + line": ["hold"],
"line + verb": ["be busy", "be engaged", "be dead"],
"preposition": ["down the line", "on the line", "on line"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 7,
"definition": "a railway track or other transport route; a section of a transport system or route",
"sensetop": "on a line",
"labels": "(British English also)",
"cefr": "a2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "The train was delayed because a tree had fallen across the line."
},
{
"text": "a **rail line**"
},
{
"text": "a **railway line**"
},
{
"text": "the East Coast line"
},
{
"text": "We got off the bus near **the end of the line** at San Gerardo."
},
{
"text": "Various tram lines are currently experiencng severe delays."
},
{
"text": "We live on the Northern Line.",
"contextForm": "on a line"
},
{
"text": "The restaurant has an unpromising site beside a railway line."
},
{
"text": "Trains were cancelled because of leaves on the line."
},
{
"text": "They built a high-speed rail line linking the two cities."
},
{
"text": "The new line would link Clapham Junction in south-west London with Dalston in the north-east of the city."
},
{
"text": "There are two railroad lines running next to the French Quarter."
},
{
"text": "He became a successful stagecoach operator, establishing lines between Boston, Massachusetts and Albany, New York."
},
{
"text": "You have to get off the bus here—it's the end of the line."
},
{
"text": "the little village of Jicotea, at the end of the bus line"
},
{
"text": "The branch line is threatened with closure."
}
],
"topics": ["Transport by bus and train"],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["rail", "railway", "train"],
"verb + line": ["take"],
"preposition": ["on a/the line"],
"phrases": ["the end of the line"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 8,
"definition": "the direction that somebody/something is moving or located in",
"sensetop": "in a lineline of something",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "Just keep going in a **straight line**.",
"contextForm": "in a line"
},
{
"text": "The town is in a direct line between London and the coast."
},
{
"text": "Be careful to stay out of the **line of fire** *(= the direction somebody is shooting in)*.",
"contextForm": "line of something"
},
{
"text": "They **followed the line** of the river for three miles."
},
{
"text": "He couldn't even walk in a straight line."
},
{
"text": "The surveyors moved across the country, through forests, up mountains, and down ravines, but always travelling in straight lines."
},
{
"text": "The wall follows the line of the mountain range."
},
{
"text": "We could have gone in a more direct line to Denver."
},
{
"text": "It's three miles along the road, although only a mile and a half away in a direct line."
},
{
"text": "The kitchen garden runs along the line of the building's south facing terrace."
},
{
"text": "If you follow the line of my finger, you can see the building there on the hillside."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 9,
"definition": "a route from one place to another especially when it is used for a particular purpose",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Their aim was to block guerrilla **supply lines**."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 10,
"definition": "a row of words on a page or the empty space where they can be written; the words of a song or poem or other piece of writing",
"cefr": "a1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "Look at line 5 of the text."
},
{
"text": "Write the title of your essay on the top line."
},
{
"text": "I can only remember the first two lines of that song."
},
{
"text": "She quoted a few lines of Shakespeare."
},
{
"text": "A team of programmers wrote 200 000 **lines of code** *(= computer programming language)*."
},
{
"text": "Avoid a **line break** *(= starting a new line)* in the middle of a word."
},
{
"text": "Start each paragraph on a new line."
},
{
"text": "There should be a full stop at the end of the line."
},
{
"text": "He asked me to sing the opening lines of Tosti's ‘In the hush of the night’."
},
{
"text": "Each picture is accompanied by a short line of text."
},
{
"text": "As soon as I read those lines I knew this was a writer I would love."
},
{
"text": "The story's first line reads, ‘There were once two little girls who saw, or believed they saw, a thing in a forest.’"
},
{
"text": "He pointed to a line in the book he was holding."
},
{
"text": "Each line of the poem has five stressed syllables."
},
{
"text": "A sonnet usually has fourteen lines."
},
{
"text": "The first letter of each line forms a word."
},
{
"text": "The poet was very particular about the font, punctuation, and line spacing of his poems."
}
],
"topics": ["Literature and writing"],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["long", "short", "new"],
"verb + line": ["form"],
"preposition": ["in a/the line", "on a/the line"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 11,
"definition": "the words spoken by an actor in a play or film",
"sensetop": "line from something",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "to learn your lines"
},
{
"text": "I keep forgetting my lines."
},
{
"text": "The way she **delivers the line** is hilarious."
},
{
"text": "He quoted a line from the film ‘Casablanca’.",
"contextForm": "line from something"
},
{
"text": "He delivers his lines in a flat, uninflected way."
},
{
"text": "In a musical, actors often sing their lines."
},
{
"text": "In the audition you will be asked to read a few lines."
},
{
"text": "She is obviously reading lines from a script."
},
{
"text": "He read his lines in a monotone."
},
{
"text": "The film includes some great lines."
},
{
"text": "an unoriginal plot enlivened by a few good lines of dialogue"
},
{
"text": "That's when he utters the memorable line ‘Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.’"
},
{
"text": "She started coughing in the middle of the line."
},
{
"text": "It was a small part with few lines."
},
{
"text": "Actors always want more lines."
}
],
"topics": ["Film and theatre"],
"collocations": {
"verb + lines": ["learn", "practise/practice", "recite"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 12,
"definition": "a punishment in which a child has to write out a particular sentence a number of times",
"labels": "(British English)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "The teacher gave me 100 lines."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 13,
"definition": "a remark, especially when somebody says it to achieve a particular purpose",
"labels": "(informal)(British English)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Don't give me that line about having to work late again."
},
{
"text": "That's the worst **chat-up line** I've ever heard."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 14,
"definition": "a long piece of rope, string, etc., especially when it is used for a particular purpose",
"sensetop": "on the line",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "They dropped the sails and threw a line to a man on the dock."
},
{
"text": "Towels were hanging on the line *(= clothes line)*.",
"contextForm": "on the line"
},
{
"text": "He had a fish on his line."
},
{
"text": "150 feet of nylon line"
},
{
"text": "Get the clothes off the line."
},
{
"text": "When he reeled in his line, there was nothing on the end of it."
},
{
"text": "An anchor was dropped over the side on almost 1 000 feet of anchor line."
},
{
"text": "The fish immediately pulled out about 20 yards of line."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 15,
"definition": "a pipe or thick wire that carries water, gas or electricity from one place to another",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "water/gas/sewage lines"
},
{
"text": "Telephone lines were brought down in the storm."
},
{
"text": "There were two fuel lines coming into the engine."
},
{
"text": "The telegraph lines connecting the two cities had been cut."
},
{
"text": "a series of posts which were linked to one another by telegraph lines"
},
{
"text": "They made plans for new sewage lines and roads."
},
{
"text": "The infrastructure, including sewage pipes and water lines, is in bad shape."
},
{
"text": "The storm has cut off electricity lines and blocked roads."
},
{
"text": "Excavations for driveways, gas lines or other utilities may have caused root damage."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["direct", "trunk", "power"],
"verb + line": ["hold"],
"line + verb": ["be busy", "be engaged", "be dead"],
"preposition": ["down the line", "on the line", "on line"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 16,
"definition": "an imaginary limit or border between one place or thing and another",
"sensetop": "across a line",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "a district line"
},
{
"text": "lines of longitude and latitude"
},
{
"text": "She drove from her home in Garfield County across the line into Mesa County.",
"contextForm": "across a line"
},
{
"text": "He remembers the first time he crossed the line into Iraq."
},
{
"text": "the boundary line between two countries"
},
{
"text": "We must end this separation of rich and poor across school district lines."
},
{
"text": "Computer databases are being used to redraw electoral district lines."
},
{
"text": "The Civil War was a moment when the various lines dividing the country were contested."
},
{
"text": "The Equator is an imaginary line encircling the globe."
},
{
"text": "When they talk about North and South, they are referring to an imaginary line from Dublin to Galway."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 17,
"definition": "the division between one area of thought or behaviour and another or between one group of people and another",
"sensetop": "line between A and B",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "Mass consumption **blurred the lines** of class distinction."
},
{
"text": "We want to cut across lines of race, sex and religion."
},
{
"text": "Music offers a way to **cross** cultural **lines**."
},
{
"text": "There is a **fine line** between informing the public and alarming them.",
"contextForm": "line between A and B"
},
{
"text": "There's a fine line between showing interest in what someone is doing and interfering in it."
},
{
"text": "With this film he crosses the line into straightforward commercialism."
},
{
"text": "Government is damaged when the line separating church and state is crossed."
},
{
"text": "This architecture is about blurring the lines between nature and the built environment."
},
{
"text": "Her work plays with stereotypes, blurring lines of sex and gender."
},
{
"text": "British figurative artist Gary Benfield straddles the line between drawing and painting."
},
{
"text": "Some of the performances fail to straddle the fine line between understatement and dullness."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 18,
"definition": "an attitude or a belief, especially one that somebody states publicly",
"sensetop": "line on something",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "The company line is that discrimination in any form is not tolerated."
},
{
"text": "He supported the official line on education.",
"contextForm": "line on something"
},
{
"text": "The government is taking a firm line on terrorism."
},
{
"text": "There's been a hardening of lines on both sides (= both sides have developed stricter or more fixed attitudes)."
},
{
"text": "A senior intelligence officer contradicted the government's official line."
},
{
"text": "Newsreaders just repeat the government line."
},
{
"text": "They are expected to unquestioningly support the management line."
},
{
"text": "His speech cast aside the Foreign Office line on the issue."
},
{
"text": "I tend to take the line that you should wear what you feel comfortable in and not worry about what other people think."
},
{
"text": "The administration has taken a line that is basically contrary to its own principles."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["broad", "firm", "hard"],
"verb + line": ["adopt", "follow", "pursue"],
"preposition": ["in line with", "out of line with", "line on"],
"phrases": [
"a line of argument",
"a line of reasoning",
"a line of attack"
]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 19,
"definition": "a method or way of doing or thinking about something",
"sensetop": "line of something",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "His research **follows** quite different **lines**."
},
{
"text": "I don't follow your **line of reasoning**.",
"contextForm": "line of something"
},
{
"text": "a **line of thought/thinking**"
},
{
"text": "She decided to try a different **line of argument** *(= way of persuading somebody of something)*."
},
{
"text": "somebody’s first **line of attack/defence**"
},
{
"text": "The police are pursuing a new **line of inquiry** *(= way of finding out information)*."
},
{
"text": "This line of thought perturbs me."
},
{
"text": "His line of thinking seems to be that the food industry is fraudulently promoting addictive, unhealthy foods as healthy."
},
{
"text": "We know that intelligence is our first line of defence against terrorism."
},
{
"text": "Our approach involves two main lines of attack."
},
{
"text": "This line of questioning seemed to be getting us nowhere."
},
{
"text": "One line of research focuses on gender."
},
{
"text": "We are pursuing several lines of investigation."
},
{
"text": "The broad lines of company policy are already laid down."
},
{
"text": "Multiple lines of evidence were all leading to the same conclusion."
},
{
"text": "Keep your lines of communication open."
},
{
"text": "The plot runs along predictable lines."
},
{
"text": "Other writers followed similar lines in discussing this theorem."
},
{
"text": "It's pointless to pursue that line any further."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["broad", "firm", "hard"],
"verb + line": ["adopt", "follow", "pursue"],
"preposition": ["in line with", "out of line with", "line on"],
"phrases": [
"a line of argument",
"a line of reasoning",
"a line of attack"
]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 20,
"definition": "a series of people, things or events that follow one another in time",
"sensetop": "line of somethingline (from somebody/something) (to somebody/something)",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "to pass something down through the male/female line"
},
{
"text": "She came from **a long line of** doctors.",
"contextForm": "line of something"
},
{
"text": "This novel is the latest in a long line of thrillers that he has written."
},
{
"text": "That was the first in a whole line of mistakes and bad decisions."
},
{
"text": "The book traces a historical line from Beethoven to the present day.",
"contextForm": "line (from somebody/something) (to somebody/something)"
},
{
"text": "The film traces a line of events from their first meeting through to their tragic separation and death."
},
{
"text": "We can trace a line of such thinking from Voltaire."
},
{
"text": "His work is in a direct line from that of John Cassavetes."
},
{
"text": "I do not accept the claim that there is a direct line from Nietzsche via Heidegger to Nazism."
},
{
"text": "Mitochondrial DNA makes it possible to trace the maternal line."
},
{
"text": "The mutation gets passed down the ancestral line."
},
{
"text": "This is pop that can trace its line all the way back to the Beatles."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 21,
"definition": "a series of people in order of importance",
"sensetop": "line of somethingdown the line (from somebody/something)in line (to somebody/something)",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "a line of command",
"contextForm": "line of something"
},
{
"text": "There is some benefit to having a clear line of authority."
},
{
"text": "Orders came down the line from the very top.",
"contextForm": "down the line (from somebody/something)"
},
{
"text": "He is second in line to the chairman.",
"contextForm": "in line (to somebody/something)"
},
{
"text": "to be **next in line** to the throne"
},
{
"text": "You have to report them to a higher authority, someone further up the line."
},
{
"text": "They undermined old lines of authority."
},
{
"text": "He resigned and the next in the line of succession became president."
},
{
"text": "There was nostalgia for the traditional dynastic line of succession."
},
{
"text": "Prince George is currently third in line to the throne."
},
{
"text": "She is next in line for a promotion."
},
{
"text": "I was the heir; I was next in line."
},
{
"text": "She was first in line to succeed her father."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 22,
"definition": "the edge, outline or shape of somebody/something",
"cefr": "a1",
"examples": [
{
"text": "He traced the line of her jaw with his finger."
},
{
"text": "a beautiful sports car with sleek lines"
},
{
"text": "I prefer simple lines in skirts and trousers."
}
],
"topics": ["Colours and Shapes"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 23,
"definition": "a system of making something, in which the product moves from one worker to the next until it is finished",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": 24,
"definition": "a type or area of business, activity or interest",
"sensetop": "line of somethingin the… line",
"examples": [
{
"text": "My **line of work** pays pretty well.",
"contextForm": "line of something"
},
{
"text": "What line of business are they in?"
},
{
"text": "You can't do much in the art line without training.",
"contextForm": "in the… line"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 25,
"definition": "a type of product",
"sensetop": "line in something",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Some lines sell better than others."
},
{
"text": "new **product lines**"
},
{
"text": "We are starting a new line in casual clothes.",
"contextForm": "line in something"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 26,
"definition": "a company that provides transport for people or goods",
"examples": [
{
"text": "a shipping/bus line"
},
{
"text": "the White Star Line"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 27,
"definition": "a row or series of military defences where the soldiers are fighting during a war",
"examples": [
{
"text": "They were trapped **behind enemy lines** *(= in the area controlled by the enemy)*."
}
],
"collocations": {
"adjective": ["battle", "defensive", "firing"],
"phrases": [
"behind enemy lines",
"in the front line",
"on the front line"
]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 28,
"definition": "an amount of cocaine that is spread out in a thin line, ready to take",
"labels": "(slang)",
"examples": []
},
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "connected with the income that a company receives and the costs it has to pay in its daily business, which affect the profit it makes",
"labels": "(finance)",
"cefr": "c2",
"examples": [
{
"text": "All these costs are above the line and directly hit profits."
}
],
"topics": ["Money"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "connected with advertising in the mass media",
"labels": "(business)",
"cefr": "c2",
"examples": [
{
"text": "They planned an advertising campaign with both above-the-line and social media components."
}
],
"topics": ["Business"]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "at some point during an activity or a process",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Somewhere along the line a large amount of money went missing."
},
{
"text": "We'll make a decision on that further down the line."
},
{
"text": "The muddle seems to have happened further down the line."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "in the way that is mentioned",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "The new system will operate **along the same lines** as the old one."
},
{
"text": "They voted along class lines."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "similar to the way or thing that is mentioned",
"labels": "(informal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "Those aren't his exact words, but he said something along those lines."
},
{
"text": "The hotel was built along the lines of a French chateau."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "used to say that people or groups have shown which side they intend to support in an argument or contest that is going to begin",
"examples": [],
"topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to be working or functioning",
"examples": [
{
"text": "The new working methods will come on line in June."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "to be in a position where you can be shot at",
"examples": [
{
"text": "attempts to prevent civilians from being in the firing line"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "to be in a position where people can criticize or blame you",
"examples": [
{
"text": "The employment secretary found himself in the firing line over recent job cuts."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "connected with unusual costs or income that a company pays or receives, that are not part of its daily business and are taken away or added after calculating profits",
"labels": "(finance)",
"cefr": "c2",
"examples": [
{
"text": "There was a £4 million extraordinary charge below the line."
}
],
"topics": ["Money"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "connected with advertising by means of direct mail, email, social media, events, etc.",
"labels": "(business)",
"cefr": "c2",
"examples": [
{
"text": "We are planning social networking, digital marketing and below-the-line activities across the country."
}
],
"topics": ["Business"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "connected with a section at the end of an online article or blog post where readers can put comments",
"examples": [
{
"text": "There were numerous comments below the line."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "to behave or make somebody/something behave in the same way as other people or how they should behave",
"e