–noun

1.	a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels.

2.	a similar stream of something other than water: a river of lava; a river of ice.

3.	any abundant stream or copious flow; outpouring: rivers of tears; rivers of words.

4.	(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Eridanus.

5.	Printing. a vertical channel of white space resulting from the alignment in several lines of spaces between words.

—Idioms

6.	sell down the river, to betray; desert; mislead: to sell one's friends down the river.

7.	up the river, Slang. a. to prison: to be sent up the river for a bank robbery. b. in prison: Thirty years up the river had made him a stranger to society.

–noun

1.	a woman or girl admired for her beauty and charm.

785

2.	the most beautiful, charming, or engaging woman or girl among a number: the belle of the ball.

–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, plural -nos for 1.

1.	a building or large room used for meetings, entertainment, dancing, etc., esp. such a place equipped with gambling devices, gambling tables, etc.

2.	(in Italy) a small country house or lodge.

3.	Also, cassino. Cards. a game in which cards that are face up on the table are taken with eligible cards in the hand.