beeline

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Pronunciation 1.4 Noun 1.5 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

• bee-line

[edit] Etymology

From bee + line, via the belief that a bee returns to its hive in a straight course.

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

beeline (plural beelines)

1. A very direct or quick path or trip.

   He found the bee tree in the woods by tracking the beeline of several worker bees.

   He walked into the store and made a beeline for the sale rack.

2. (mining, chiefly historical) A dynamite fuse made with a small quantity of dynamite powder along its length, so that the spark travels quickly and at a specific known rate.

[edit] Verb

to beeline (third-person singular simple present beelines, present participle beelining, simple past and past participle beelined)

1. To travel in a straight course, ignoring established paths of travel. To take a shortcut.