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straight line

straight line

49 1.0
A line that does not curve and keeps the same direction
  • noun
  • /streɪt laɪn/
translation icon : línea recta
  • The warriors appeared first, spread out side by side in a straight line, and moved toward the fort.
  • draw a straight line
  • a straight line segment
  • connected by straight lines

I can't walk in a straight line and maintain eye contact.

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Examples

Antonyms

209 2.3

A smooth, rounded shape or line that often shows change

How Straight

straight line
49 1.0
curved
6 1.0
wavy
16 1.3
zigzag
12 3.1

Surface Forms

straight line singular

Morphology

straight + line

The meaning of 'straight line' is directly derived from combining 'straight' (having no bend) and 'line' (a narrow mark or path); there is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift. This compositional, literal pattern is cross-linguistically common and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Straight line comes from a simple image: imagine a tight string pulled between two nails. The string is straight and makes a line with no bend, so straight line means 'a line that does not curve'.