Definition

1. Noun:
   • An imaginary line on the Earth's surface: The date line is an imaginary line that runs roughly along the 180th meridian of longitude in the Pacific Ocean. It marks the place where each calendar day begins and ends.
   • The boundary between calendar dates: Crossing the date line causes a change in the calendar date. Traveling west across the line advances the date by one day, while traveling east across it moves the date back by one day.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • When you cross the international date line, you either gain or lose a day.
  • The ship's log noted the exact time they passed the date line.

Advanced Usage

• "International Date Line": This is the full and most common name for the date line. It is often preceded by "the."
  • Fiji is located just west of the International Date Line.

Variants and Related Words

• Dateline (noun, often written as one word): A line in a newspaper article showing the date and place of origin.
  • The article carried a Moscow dateline.
  • Note: This is a distinct, separate word with a different meaning related to journalism.

Synonyms

• Calendar line: A less common synonym for the international date line.
• 180th meridian: Refers to the line of longitude it approximately follows, though the date line deviates to avoid land masses.

Related Phrases

• To cross the date line: The act of passing over this imaginary boundary.
  • We will cross the date line on our flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles.

Noun

1. an imaginary line on the surface of the earth following (approximately) the 180th meridian