multiline
|mul-ti-line|
/ˌmʌltiˈlaɪn/
more than one line
Etymology
'multiline' originates from Modern English compounding of Latin-derived elements: specifically the prefix 'multi-' from Latin 'multus', where 'multus' meant 'many', and 'line' from Latin 'linea', where 'linea' meant 'linen thread' or 'line'.
'multiline' developed as a hyphenated form 'multi-line' in print and technical usage in the 20th century and later stabilized in modern usage as the closed compound 'multiline'.
Initially it meant 'made of or having many lines' in a literal sense; over time it expanded to mean 'extending over more than one line' and acquired specific technical senses in computing and telephony.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
informal: a multiline telephone system or a telephone that handles multiple lines (often used in business settings).
The receptionist answered the multiline quickly during the morning rush.
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Adjective 1
consisting of or extending over several lines (of text).
The paragraph is multiline and needs to be reformatted for the narrow column.
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Last updated: 2026/01/18 02:53