–adjective

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.

–adverb

10.	with or through a computer, esp. over a network.

–noun

1.	a particular month, day, and year at which some event happened or will happen: July 4, 1776 was the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

2.	the day of the month: Is today's date the 7th or the 8th?

3.	an inscription on a writing, coin, etc., that shows the time, or time and place, of writing, casting, delivery, etc.: a letter bearing the date January 16.

4.	the time or period to which any event or thing belongs; period in general: at a late date.

5.	the time during which anything lasts; duration: The pity is that childhood has so short a date.

6.	an appointment for a particular time: They have a date with their accountant at ten o'clock.

7.	a social appointment, engagement, or occasion arranged beforehand with another person: to go out on a date on Saturday night.

8.	a person with whom one has such a social appointment or engagement: Can I bring a date to the party?

9.	an engagement for an entertainer to perform.

10.	dates, the birth and death dates, usually in years, of a person: Dante's dates are 1265 to 1321.

–verb (used without object)

11.	to have or bear a date: The letter dates from 1873.

12.	to belong to a particular period; have its origin: That dress dates from the 19th century. The architecture dates as far back as 1830.

13.	to reckon from some point in time: The custom dates from the days when women wore longer skirts.

14.	to go out socially on dates: She dated a lot during high school.

–verb (used with object)

15.	to mark or furnish with a date: Please date the check as of today.

16.	to ascertain or fix the period or point in time of; assign a period or point in time to: The archaeologist dated the ruins as belonging to the early Minoan period.

3e8

17.	to show the age of; show to be old-fashioned.

18.	to make a date with; go out on dates with: He's been dating his best friend's sister.

—Idioms

19.	to date, up to the present time; until now: This is his best book to date.

20.	up to date, in agreement with or inclusive of the latest information; modern: Bring us up to date on the news.