lining

Plurallinings

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A covering fixed to the inside surface of an object.

   The jacket's silk lining had worn thin at the elbows.

   Workers replaced the lining of the furnace before winter set in.

   Note

   A word that travels well: the same noun serves a torn suit, a botanist's leaf surface and a physician's artery. In scientific writing it often comes with a reinforcing adjective, as in the inner lining of blood vessels or the interior lining of a lobule. Strictly, the adjective is redundant, since a lining is inside by definition. In everyday talk about coats and boxes, the lining alone is enough.

2. 2
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The fabric or other material used to cover the inside surface of something.

   The tailor chose a heavier lining for the winter coats.

   Satin lining feels smooth against the skin.

3. 3
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of line.

   Volunteers are lining the attic walls with insulation.

   He spent the morning lining every drawer in the dresser.

   Note

   Not every lining has to do with insides. The verb behind it also means to form a line along, to set things in a row (usually with up), to mark with lines, and even to align switches that send a train onto a track. Only the covering meaning overlaps with the act of fitting a covering, where gerund and noun become hard to tell apart.

   Spectators were lining the route an hour before the parade.

   She was lining up the chairs in neat rows for the meeting.

4. 4
   noununcountable

   The act of attaching a covering to the inside surface of something.

   The lining of the furnace requires fireproof material and skilled labor.

   Proper lining of the brake drums prevents premature wear.

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