[on-lahyn, awn-] 
| 1. | operating under the direct control of, or connected to, a main computer. |
| 2. | connected by computer to one or more other computers or networks, as through a commercial electronic information service or the Internet. |
| 3. | of or denoting a business that transmits electronic information over telecommunications lines: an on-line bookstore. |
| 4. | available or operating on a computer or computer network: an on-line dictionary. |
| 5. | by means of or using a computer: on-line shopping. |
| 6. | Radio. (of a network) supplying affiliated stations with all or a substantial part of their programming. |
| 7. | Television. of or pertaining to the final editing of a videotaped program. |
| 8. | done or accomplished while in operation or active service: on-line maintenance. |
| 9. | located on major routes or rail lines: on-line industries. |
| 10. | with or through a computer, esp. over a network. |
| on·line or on-line (ŏn'līn', ôn'-) adj.
|
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)
