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midline

C1
noun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /mˈɪdlaɪn/

US

  • /ˈmɪdˌlaɪn/

Description

Imagine a person drawing a straight mark down the exact center of a shape or a body. That is the idea behind "midline." It means a real or imaginary line that runs through the middle of something and often divides it into right and left sides or into two equal parts. A doctor might use it as a guide when talking about the center of the chest or abdomen, and a math teacher might use it when showing the center of a figure.

The idea is simple: it points to the middle. In anatomy, geometry, and other careful descriptions, "midline" helps people show where the center is and how one side relates to the other. It is a word about balance, position, and symmetry.

Examples

  1. 1

    Medical exam

    The doctor checked whether the swelling was close to the body’s midline.

    • Meaning

      midline

      the imaginary center line that divides the body into left and right sides

  2. 2

    Medical scan

    The scan showed that the mass had not crossed the midline.

  3. 3

    Child therapy

    In therapy, the child practiced reaching across the midline with her right hand.

    • Phrase

      reach across the midline

      move across the center of the body

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • midlinenoun