Line
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The word line derives from the Latin linum, meaning flax plant from which linen is produced; at one time, a stretched linen thread was the most reliable way to determine a straight line.
The word line can refer to:
- a "straight line", in the geometric sense; see line (mathematics);
- a length of rope;
- a queue area;
- a line of written, printed, or spoken text;
- a product line, in marketing;
- an obsolete unit of measurement, equal to one-twelfth of an imperial inch;
- a circuit (or loop) in electrical engineering;
- a Powerline for electric power transmission;
- a telephone line;
- a measure of video display resolution or image resolution; see line (video);
- a program to emulate Linux on Microsoft Windows in the manner of WINE — see LINE;
- the line of battle in naval warfare, hence "ship of the line";
- a shipping line is a company engaged in sea transport, (from which comes the term Ocean liner);
- the infantry, as in line infantry, since foot soldiers used to pitch their tents in the field in straight lines; hence nowadays "Borneo Lines", for instance, is the name of a barracks;
- a line may refer to lineage in genealogy or evolution;
- an archaic name of the unit for magnetic flux, now named the maxwell.
- Lines (video game).