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Glite Dictionary
snapline

snapline

8.4
A string covered with chalk that you snap to mark straight lines on walls or floors
  • noun
  • /ˈsnæpˌlaɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cuerda de tiza
  • The carpenter used a snapline to ensure the tiles were laid in a straight row.

Examples

  • Before hanging drywall, she marked a guide with her blue snapline.

  • A quick flick of the snapline left a crisp, straight mark on the wall.

  • He used a snapline to mark the wall.

  • The contractor bought new snaplines for the job.

  • The carpenter used a snapline to create a perfectly straight line for the foundation.

  • Before laying the tiles, she snapped the snapline to mark the layout on the floor.

  • Using a snapline made it easy to align the boards accurately along the wall.

Synonyms

chalk line
vssnapline
  • Specialized
2 3.9

A string covered with chalk used to mark a straight line on a surface

is the more specific term focusing on chalk coating rather than snapping action
snap line
vssnapline
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A string with chalk on it that you stretch and snap to mark a straight line

is the single word form used instead of two separate words

Surface Forms

snapline singular
snaplines plural

Morphology

snapline = snap + line (transparent) = snap + line

The compound literally denotes a line used for snapping to mark a line; both components are productive and the relation is direct and guessable.

Etymology

Snapline is made from snap and line: it is a tight string you 'snap', meaning 'a quick hit', to leave a chalk 'line' on a wall. That's why a snapline gives a fast, straight guide when you build.