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Glite Dictionary
⚔️ Clear division 🪖 Army position
battle line

battle line

1 5.0
A line where opposing armies stand and fight
  • noun
  • /ˈbætəl laɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : línea de batalla
  • He could see the dust rising as troops advanced along the battle line in the distance.
  • form a battle line
  • battle line stretched

Examples

  • A shell shrieked past Caudell, exploding just in front of the main rebel battle line.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The Muslims had formed three battle lines.

    Academic text (2010)

  • We were adversaries back then, facing each other across a battle line.

    Sniper: Ghost Shooter (2016)

  • We met the Zoner army there, drawn up in battle line.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Ahmed Shah stayed behind the battle lines with the rest of his troops so that he could observe the battle and send aid where it was needed.

  • As nightfall approached, the Army had only advanced about halfway up their side of the island, and the Marines were directed to fall back to establish a coordinated battle line across the island with the Army.

    Blog text (11)

  • Roger did not hesitate this time, as in Cerami, and after arranging his army's battle lines and having surprise on his side, launched an attack upon the enemy.

    Academic text (2010)

  • The soldiers stood ready at the battle line, prepared to engage the enemy forces.

  • Throughout history, many famous leaders have strategized on the battle line to outmaneuver their opponents.

Synonyms

line
vsbattle line
725 8.1

A defended position where soldiers stand during fighting

is the continuous placement where opposing forces stand to engage each other
front
vsbattle line
97 6.8

The line or area where opposing armies fight during a war

is the precise placement used for engaging and exchanging combat actions
front line
vsbattle line
  • Specialized
83 4.1

The area where enemy armies meet and fight

is the specific stretched placement where armies stand and begin combat
battlefront
vsbattle line
5 5.8

The place where two armies face each other and fight

is about the exact placement along which troops are arranged to fight
line of battle
vsbattle line
  • Archaic
1 8.1

A row of soldiers or ships arranged to fight the enemy

is the general placement where opposing forces are positioned to engage in combat
firing line
vsbattle line
1 5.8

A line where soldiers shoot at the enemy

is broader, covering full opposing placements not only shooting positions
clear battle line
vsbattle line
5.4

A clear division between two groups that shows who supports each side in a dispute

is the actual placement where troops stand and actively fight rather than a simple division

Surface Forms

battle line singular
battle lines plural

Morphology

battle + line

The meaning is directly built from 'battle' (conflict) and 'line' (a dividing position or front), so a learner who knows both words can infer a boundary or position between opposing sides. The figurative use ('draw a battle line') is a predictable metaphorical extension and is cross-linguistically common, making the expression readily comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Battle line comes from the image of armies standing in a long line on a battlefield, facing the enemy and ready to fight, with soldiers lined up where the fighting starts. That's why it means the place where opposing troops are positioned and combat happens.