Main Entry:

lin·e·a·ment

Pronunciation:

\ˈli-nē-ə-mənt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin lineamentum, from lineare to draw a line, from linea

Date:

15th century

1 a: an outline, feature, or contour of a body or figure and especially of a face —usually used in plural b: a linear topographic feature (as of the earth) that reveals a characteristic (as a fault or the subsurface structure)2: a distinguishing or characteristic feature —usually used in plural

— lin·e·a·men·tal \ˌli-nē-ə-ˈmen-t^əl\ adjective