noun

redline

REHD-lyn

Redline (noun) means the maximum safe speed or limit at which a machine, especially an engine, is designed to run. Example: “The tachometer needle crept toward the redline as he floored the accelerator.”

noun

The maximum safe speed or limit at which a machine, especially an engine, is designed to run.

"The tachometer needle crept toward the redline as he floored the accelerator."

verb

To mark up a document with corrections or proposed changes.

"The lawyer redlined the contract and sent it back for review."

To unfairly deny or restrict services like loans or insurance to people in certain areas, often based on race.

"Banks were accused of redlining low-income neighbourhoods for decades."

How to use redline

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: an engine's speed limit, marked-up edits on a document, or discriminatory denial of services to an area.

Common pairings

hit the redline redline a document redlining practices

Word forms

redlined past tense, redlines plural, redlines singular

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The tachometer needle crept toward the _____ as he floored the accelerator.

Etymology

From red plus line, from the practice of marking corrections in red pen and the red zone on a tachometer.

Rhymes for redline

nine mine wine line sine dine fine vine pine tine thine shine

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Frequently asked questions

What does “redline” mean?

The word “redline” means the maximum safe speed or limit at which a machine, especially an engine, is designed to run. In plain terms, depending on context: an engine's speed limit, marked-up edits on a document, or discriminatory denial of services to an area.

How do you pronounce “redline”?

“Redline” is pronounced REHD-lyn (/ˈɹɛd.laɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “redline” in a sentence?

Here is “redline” used in a sentence: “The tachometer needle crept toward the redline as he floored the accelerator.”

What part of speech is “redline”?

Depending on how it is used, “redline” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “redline” have?

“Redline” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the maximum safe speed or limit at which a machine, especially an engine, is designed to run.