tramlines
tramlines — noun
1. the two metal rails fixed into the street surface on which a tram runs through a
the two metal rails fixed into the street surface on which a tram runs through a city
Rania nearly tripped on the tramlines while crossing the old street in Lisbon.
plural form used for a single pair of rails
Workers are repairing the tramlines near the central square this week.
collocation: repair + tramlines
The tramlines in this part of the city date back to the early 1900s.
A delivery van got its wheel stuck between the tramlines and blocked traffic for an hour.
Mauricio watched the yellow tram glide smoothly along the tramlines through the morning fog.
- tramway
refers to the whole transport route or system, not just the rails
- streetcar track
American English equivalent; 'streetcar' is used instead of 'tram'
文法句型
tramlines + verb (plural)
the/near/along + tramlines
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form, even when referring to the two rails that make up one track. The singular form 'tramline' is rare and usually appears in compound nouns, for example 'tramline tracks' or 'tramline route'.
常見錯誤
2. two painted boundary lines on each side of tennis and badminton courts that mark
two painted boundary lines on each side of tennis and badminton courts that mark the wider playing zone for doubles matches
In doubles tennis, the ball is still good if it lands on the tramlines.
rule: landing on tramlines = in play in doubles
Kenji argued with his partner about whether the shot had landed outside the tramlines.
collocation: outside the tramlines
The fresh white paint on the tramlines helped players judge the calls more easily.
Apinya hit a perfect cross-court shot that curved and landed right between the tramlines.
The umpire left his chair to check the mark near the tramlines on the clay court.
- alley
American English informal term for the tramlines on a tennis court
- doubles sideline
more technical; refers specifically to the outer set of lines
文法句型
the + tramlines
between + the + tramlines
land on/inside/outside + the + tramlines
用法筆記
Almost always plural. In tennis specifically, there are two tramlines on each side of the court: one for singles play and one for doubles. In informal play, players may call 'tramlines' to mean just the doubles line.