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Synonyms

lining

1 American  
[lahy-ning] / ˈlaɪ nɪŋ /

noun

  1. something that is used to line another thing; a layer of material on the inner side or surface of something.

  2. Bookbinding. the material used to strengthen the back of a book after the sheets have been folded, backed, and sewed.

  3. the act or process of lining something.

lining 2 American  
[lahy-ning] / ˈlaɪ nɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of marking or ornamenting a surface with lines.

  2. a design or ornamentation composed of lines.

  3. Printing. a system of designing type so that all characters of the same point size, regardless of font, will align with one another.

lining British  
/ ˈlaɪnɪŋ /

noun

    1. material used to line a garment, curtain, etc

    2. ( as modifier )

      lining satin

  2. a material, such as mull or brown paper, used to strengthen the back of a book

  3. civil engineering a layer of concrete, brick, or timber, etc, used in canals to prevent them leaking or in tunnels or shafts to prevent them falling in

  4. any material used as an interior covering

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
lining Idioms  

  1. see silver lining.

Etymology

Origin of lining1

First recorded in 1375–1425, lining is from the late Middle English word lynyng. See line 2, -ing 1

Origin of lining2

First recorded in 1565–75; line 1 + -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The silver lining, I hope, is that you can afford your heating and cooling bills.

From MarketWatch

Momentum has continued this year, with companies in various sectors lining up to go public.

From The Wall Street Journal

Wagons of stran-gers bumped in from the countryside, lining the crossroads nearest the cottage.

From Literature

"The business is not doing as well in the once lucrative North American market and China is not lining its pockets with riches either," said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell.

From Barron's

While their league form suffered they still scored 64 times and the silver lining was a Europa League triumph over Manchester United last May, which also secured a coveted place in the Champions League.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.