- line1 n. 16a. One's trade, occupation, or field of interest: What line of work
are you in? b. Range of competence: not in my line.
- line2 tr.v. 1. to fit a covering to the inside surface of: a coat lined with
fur. 2. To cover the inner surface of: Moisture lined the walls of the cave.
3. To fill plentifully, as with money or food. --idiom: line (one's) pocket.
- linear perspective n. A form of perspective in drawing and painting in which
parallel lines are represented as converging so as to give the illusion of
depth and distance.
- lineament n. 1. A distinctive shape, contour, or line, especially of the face.
2. A definititve or characteristic feature. Often used in the plural: "the
gross and subtle folds of corruption on the average senatorial face are hardly
the lineaments of virtue" (Norman Mailer).
- line item n. A single item, especially of a legislative appropriations bill:
Most governors have the power to veto line items of the proposed state budget.
- line item veto n. Authority, as of a government executive, to reject
provisions of a bill individually. Also called item veto.
- liner1 n. 1. One that draws or make lines. 2. A large commercial ship or
airplane, especially one carrying passengers on a regular route. 3. Baseball A
line drive.
- liner2 n. 1. One that makes or puts in linings. 2a. A lining. b. Material used
as a lining. 3. A woman's undergarment of dress length with shoulder straps; a
slip. 4. A jacket for a phonograph record.
- lingam also linga n. Hinduism A stylized phallus worshiped as a symbol of the
god Shiva. [Sanskrit lingam, mark, penis.]
- linguaphile n. A lover of languages and words.
- lining n. 1. A covering or coating for an inside surface: The jacket had a
patterned lining. 2. Material used for such covering or coating.
- linn n. Scots 1. A waterfall. 2. A steep ravine.
- lint n. 1. clinging bits of fiber and fluff; fuzz. 2. Downy material obtained
by scraping linen cloth and used for dressing wounds. 3. The mass of soft
fibers surrounding the seeds of unginned cotton.
- lipectomy n. Surgical excision of subcutaneous fatty tissue.
- lipophilic adj. Having an affinity for, tending to combine with, or capable of
dissolving in lipids.
- lip-synch also lip-sync v. -intr. To move the lips in synchronization with
recorded speech or song. -tr. To move the lips in synchronization with
(recorded speech or song): She lip-synched the songs for the movie.
- lisle n. 1. A fine, smooth, tightly twisted thread spun from long-stapled
cotton. 2. Fabric knitted of this thread, used especially for hosiery and
underwear.
- lissome also lissom adj. 1. Easily bent; supple. 2. Having the ability to move
with ease; limber.
- list3 n. an inclination to one side, as of a ship; a tilt. intr. & tr.v. To
lean or cause to lean to the side: the damaged ship listed badly to starboard.
Erosion first listed, then toppled the spruce tree.
- lithe adj. 1. Readily bent; supple: lithe birch branches. 2. Marked by
effortless grace: a lithe ballet dancer.
- lithophyte n. 1. Botany A plant that grows on rock and derives its nourishment
chiefly from the atmosphere. 2. Zoology An organism, such as coral, that has a
stony structure.
- lithotomy n. Surgical removal of a stone or stones from the urinary tract.
- lithotripsy n. Pulverization of kidney stones or gallstones by means of a
lithotripter.
- litmus test n. 1. A test for chemical acidity or basicity using litmus paper.
2. A test that uses a single indicator to prompt a decision: "The word
'hopefully' has become the litmus test to determine whether one is a language
snob or a language slob."