lifeline

See also: life-line and life line

English

Alternative forms

• life-line
• life line

Etymology

From life +‎ line.

Pronunciation

• enPR: līfʹlīn' IPA^(key): /ˈlaɪfˌlaɪn/

Noun

lifeline (plural lifelines)

1. A line to which a drowning or falling victim may cling.
2. A means or route for transporting indispensable supplies.
3. A source of salvation in a crisis.
4. (engineering) System or structure of vital importance to a community.
5. (nautical) On the deck of a boat, a line to which one can attach oneself to stay aboard on rough seas.

Synonyms

• (line on the deck of a boat): jackstay

Translations

line to which a drowning or falling victim may cling

• Finnish: pelastusköysi
• German: Rettungsleine f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Irish: téad sábhála m, líne tharrthála f
• Welsh: rhaff achub f

means or route for transporting indispensable supplies

• Finnish: elämänlanka (fi)
• German: Lebensader (de) f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: livslinje m or f

  Nynorsk: livslinje f

means of salvation in a crisis

• Finnish: oljenkorsi (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Welsh: rhaff achub f

system of vital importance

• Finnish: elintärkeä järjestelmä
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

safety line on the deck of a boat

• Finnish: elämänlanka (fi)
• Russian: спаса́тельный трос m (spasátelʹnyj tros)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Swedish: livlina c

• Irish: ^{(please verify)} líne tharrthála f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}