clothesline
Clothesline (noun) means a rope or cord strung up outdoors for hanging washing to dry. Example: “Sheets flapped on the clothesline in the summer breeze.”
How to use clothesline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA line for drying washing outside — or, informally, a hard hit across the neck or chest that knocks someone flat.
The verb sense is informal, common in sports commentary and wrestling.
Word forms
clotheslined past tense, clotheslines plural, clotheslines singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Sheets flapped on the _____ in the summer breeze.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of clothes plus line.
Rhymes for clothesline
See all rhymes for clothesline →Frequently asked questions
What does “clothesline” mean?
The word “clothesline” means a rope or cord strung up outdoors for hanging washing to dry. In plain terms, a line for drying washing outside — or, informally, a hard hit across the neck or chest that knocks someone flat.
How do you pronounce “clothesline”?
“Clothesline” is pronounced KLOHTHZ-lyn (/ˈkloʊðzlaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “clothesline” in a sentence?
Here is “clothesline” used in a sentence: “Sheets flapped on the clothesline in the summer breeze.”
What part of speech is “clothesline”?
Depending on how it is used, “clothesline” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “clothesline” have?
“Clothesline” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a rope or cord strung up outdoors for hanging washing to dry.