on-line

on-line
    adj 1: on a regular route of a railroad or bus or airline
           system; "on-line industries" [syn: {on-line}, {online}]
           [ant: {off-line}]
    2: connected to a computer network or accessible by computer;
       "an on-line database" [syn: {on-line}, {online}] [ant: {off-
       line}]
    3: being in progress now; "on-line editorial projects" [syn:
       {on-line(a)}, {online}]
    

online \on"line`\, on-line \on"-line`\adj.
   1. 1 (Computers) connected by a communications line to a
      computer. Opposite of {off-line}.

   Syn: online, on line(predicate).
        [WordNet 1.5]

   2. [prenominal] being in progress now; ongoing; as, on-line
      editorial projects. [Colloq.]

   Syn: in progress(predicate), ongoing, on line(predicate).
        [WordNet 1.5]
    

on-line

   <jargon> 1. Ready for use.  E.g. "The graph plotter's fixed
   and on-line again".

   2. {Interactive} as opposed to {batch}.  Accessible via a
   computer (or {terminal}), rather than on paper or other
   medium.

   3. Of a user, actively using a computer system, especially the
   {Internet}.  E.g "I haven't been on-line for three days."

   "On-line" should be hyphenated because it is compounded from
   two words but the hyphen is often omitted in names of
   organisations or services.

   (1998-12-22)